Lemoore City Council gets first look at 2017-18 fiscal budget

On May 8, the city’s finance committee gave its thumbs up to the budget after its review, and recommends that the council adopt upon its review. A public hearing is scheduled for June 6 to allow for the public to provide comments or suggestions. Councilmembers could adopt the budge that night.

View May 16 Agenda and Budget

According to preliminary budget figures provided by Lemoore Finance Director Heather Corder, the recommended operating budget for the coming fiscal year is $22.9 million. The Capitol Improvement Budget adds another $14.1 million to the total spending plan for 2017-2018.

The city’s general fund has $4.6 million in reserve for capital projects.

City officials, as anticipated in their budget, expect to generate about $28.6 million in income from a variety of taxes, fees – a pair of the largest contributors – property taxes ($2.3 million) and sales taxes ($2.6 million).

As far as the biggest General Fund budget, that honor normally goes to the Lemoore Police Department and that’s no different this year as the department has proposed a $5.6 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Several capital projects are listed in the 2017-18 budget, including $30 million for various water projects. Much of the capital improvement funds came from a $27.6 bond measure the city approved to deal with water issues, including spending $18 million for Trihalomethanes (TTHM) compliance. Trihalomethanes are potentially harmful byproducts formed when chlorine or other disinfectants used to control microbial contaminants in drinking water react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter in water.

City officials also plan to rebuild the north well transmission line at a cost of $5,950,000, money which is also included in the budget.

Councilmembers are also being asked to contribute $7,000 to help establish a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bigs in Blue program. The Central Valley Chapter of Big Brothers, Big Sisters brings adult mentors together with at-risk young people. The Bigs in Blues program is designed to pair Lemoore police officers with Lemoore High School and Lemoore Elementary students.

Lemoore Chief of Police Darrell Smith said start-up costs for the program are approximately $20,000. The two Lemoore school districts have already raised $13,000. The two districts recently initiated a “Bigs” program bringing together high school mentors together with elementary students who meet once a week at Lemoore Elementary.