During this week’s Santa Ana City Council Meeting, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17 budget was approved which is set to begin on July 1, 2016. Due to the City’s efforts in fostering both greater transparency and citizen engagement, five Community Budget meetings were conducted during April and May 2016. The resulting $514 million FY 16-17 budget is aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan goals and incorporates community feedback. Notably, the approved budget includes:
• Expanded youth and community programs
- literacy, computer usage and summer programs
- expansion of recreation center hours for youth programs and activities
- youth sports scholarships
- community volunteer and internship programs
- $250,000 for joint use programs with the Santa Ana Unified School District
- construction of two new courts at the Cabrillo Tennis Center
• Enhanced public safety
- addition of six police officer positions and matching funds for another 10 officers under a federal COPS grant
- increase of two full-time Park Ranger positions
- funding for a community policing survey
- increased support for safety at the Main Library
• Enhanced funding for economic development
- community branding initiative and economic development projects totaling $2 million
- $1 million for public/private partnerships
• Support for community livability and engagement initiatives
- $500,000 for community partnerships to enhance engagement, safety and prosperity
- addition of code enforcement officers
- enhanced support for voter outreach and staffing
• Investment in City facilities and infrastructure
- improvements at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
- addition of an Asset Management Analyst to manage capital assets
- traffic, street and utility improvements/upgrades
- bike lane and trail projects along with various park improvements
As a result of the City Council’s outstanding leadership and financial stewardship, the FY 16-17 budget represents an increase of approximately $100 million from FY 12-13. As an affirmation of the City’s financial achievements, the City recently received its first ever “AA” general credit rating with a stable outlook from Standard and Poor’s, an independent and nationally recognized credit rating agency.
For more information about the City’s budget, including a full copy of the FY 16-17 budget, please visit http://www.santa-ana.org/finance/budget/default.asp.
