Projected increases results in balanced $86.1 million budget

By Doug Spoon, Editor

City of Menifee officials on Wednesday outlined the framework of what was presented to City Council members as a balanced $86.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The general fund budget, which will be presented for final approval on June 1, will be the beneficiary of projected revenue increases in key areas. According to Margarita Cornejo, financial services manager, sales tax revenue is expected to increase 10.1 percent from last year to $11.6 million; property tax to increase 13.63 percent to $21 million; and franchise fees to increase 10.16 percent.

In a separate budget category, the Qualify of Life (Measure DD) budget is listed at $18.1 million, including increases in staffing and equipment for the police and fire departments.

At City Hall, 12.75 positions will be added to help handle the ever-increasing demand for services, including public works and engineering. That will put the total City staff at 315 (289 full-time).

City Hall already is virtually filled to capacity, but assistant city manager Rochelle Clayton said the owner of the leased building on Haun Road has indicated the prospect of additional office space near the same location. Until then, work spaces are being reconfigured to accommodate the extra personnel, she said.

Measure DD, passed by the voters in 2016, is an additional 1 percent sales tax to fund public safety and road improvements. For the upcoming year, all of the $18.1 million is devoted to public safety: $10.4 million to the Fire Department, $7.4 million to the Police Department, and $387,000 to the Code Enforcement Department.

The Menifee Police Department’s total of sworn officers will be 118. The Fire Department will receive a new medic squad vehicle ($200,000) plus three engineers and three paramedics to staff it.

In the Capital Improvement Program, $18 million will be devoted to 25 projects underway or in the final planning stages to improve the City’s infrastructure.