City Proves Resourceful With Next Year's Budget

City Hall spending for the next fiscal year has been trimmed, but staffers will be proceeding with several street projects.  

Agoura Hills City Manager Greg Ramirez presented the proposed 2010-11 city budget Wednesday during a study session.

During his presentation, Ramirez said that he projects total expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year to cap at $16.8 million, with $6.7 million set for the Agoura Hills Redevelopment Agency.

Next year's revenue is expected to be $10.8 million, which is a net decrease of three percent or $345,533 as a result of the weakened economy, he added. 

"Times are extremely tough right now for all cities, including Agoura Hills," said Ramirez. "We were successful in finding ways to maintain our current levels in the city and stay within the budget." 

Measure R, passed in November 2008 to relieve traffic and transportation upgrades throughout the county over the next 30 years, will be funding $1.2- million worth of projects for the city of Agoura Hills. 

"It is going to be a very aggressive year," Ramirez said, "which we are excited about." 

The Palo Comado interchange, the Agoura Road widening and the Thousand Oaks Boulevard overlay are among the city's major projects for the coming year, according to Assistant City Manager Louis Celaya.

"Thousand Oaks Boulevard will be completed next year and the Reyes Adobe interchange within the next three years," Celaya said. "We are about a year ahead of schedule."

Projects slated to receive grant money for 2010-11 include a Chumash Park waterfall project, along with updates to the Kanan-Canwood median.

Councilman Dan Kuperberg said he was satisfied with next year's budget. "We have come up with incredible ways of leveraging money and being resourceful," he said.

"For the first time in 17 years, it just flows and makes so much sense," said Councilman Denis Weber. "It is certainly better for a cold read for someone that just picks this up."