A unanimous vote by the City Council last week has set in place a healthy two-year budget for Fiscal Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, despite the pandemic wreaking havoc on the local economy and causing a significant decline in city revenues.  Two main factors prevented the City from needing to make deep cuts amid the pandemic: A combination of federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act, along with funds from two voter-approved revenue measures, which account for over 15% of the City’s General Fund – the Measure AA local sales tax and Measure WW utility users tax (UUT). 

The budget development process occurs every two years, and when approved by the City Council, consists of an operating budget and a capital improvement plan. City staff plan and prepare the budget in accordance with a set of guiding budget principles to ensure fiscal responsibility, as well as to ensure alignment with City Council priorities identified in a five-year strategic plan.  The operating budget funds basic city services and is based on projected revenues and fund balance resources available. The capital improvement plan typically consists of multi-year projects related to rehabilitation or replacement of City facilities and infrastructure.  

The spending plan approved by the City Council for the next two years includes a gradual recovery of recreation programs to pre-pandemic levels; continued COVID-19 support for residents and businesses; a digital transformation to improve public interfacing; implementing measures to reimagine policing; and, processing major development projects in the City’s Station District neighborhood.

Watch the full presentation about the budget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7H1lCHKBls&t=4s

Read our blog story about the budget: https://unioncityca-gov.medium.com/