La Verne City Council OKs $63.4 Million Budget

LA VERNE, CA — The La Verne City Council unanimously adopted a $63.4 million spending plan for the next fiscal year during its Monday meeting.

Around 88 percent of the city’s expenses for the 2021-’22 fiscal year will be used toward public safety and public works, according to a statement from La Verne officials.

The police department will receive $14.7 million while the fire department will get $10.3 million.

The city’s public works department will have $22.7 million on hand in the next fiscal year, with $11 million going toward water utility. The rest of the department’s money will be used on street and park maintenance, waste and recycling, equipment and sewer utility.

Around $1.6 million will go to the community services department, which provides recreational programs for city residents and manages several facilities including the La Verne Community Center, according to the spending plan.

However, the city is expected only bring in $61 million in revenue during the next fiscal year.

“The revenues for the City’s budget are generated from a combination of property taxes, charges for current services, rent for public facilities, fines, license and permit fees, utility user taxes and sales tax,” city officials said in a statement.

The rest of La Verne’s expenses will be covered through grants and other sources of income, according to officials.

One source of revenue will be from the American Recovery Act with La Verne poised to receive $6 million. The money will be used to build up the city’s reserves and to cover any coronavirus-related expenses not reimbursed by U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Remaining funds will be used to provide assistance programs to reinvigorate the local economy as well as infrastructure projects,” officials said.