Pasadena Officials Approve $897.8 Million Spending Plan

PASADENA, CA — City officials gave the OK to spend $897.8 million over the next fiscal year during Monday’s City Council meeting.

Like the rest of the country, Pasadena’s economy took a significant hit during the pandemic with many businesses shutting its doors and residents becoming unemployed. This year’s spending plan marks a more optimistic outlook for the city, coming it at $20 million more than last year’s coronavirus-impacted budget.

Around 286.7 million of the nearly $900 million budget will be spent from the city’s general fund.

The city plans to spend around $92.7 million toward the Pasadena Police Department while the fire department will receive $56.3 million. Meanwhile, the parks, recreation and community services department will get $22.8 million to spend and the public works department $76.9 million.

However, despite the approval, the budget still could change with future amendments as Mayor Victor Gordo said “there will be more to come” with how the city will allocate its expenditures in the upcoming fiscal year.

Several community members during the meeting’s public comment period took issue with the police department’s spending, saying the money should be instead used for community services, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

“If you choose not to change the way things were funded in the past, you are telling our most vulnerable community members that they must accept their circumstances because you refused to help them,” Sonja Berndt, a former state prosecutor and housing advocate, said.

As part of the approved budget the city will be paying $10 million to help partially cover the Rose Bowl’s debt for the year. Officials have grappled with trying to find long-term funding for the venue, which took on significant losses during the pandemic.

It's expected the venue will see a $5.4 million to $7.7 million annual gap in revenue for the next five years.