Elk Grove Approves $148.8 million Budget, Indicates Redistricting Preference

The Elk Grove City Council last night unanimously approved the fiscal year 2012 budget and indicated how their preference on how the city should be redistricted.

In short order, the Elk Grove City Council approved the city’s fiscal year 2012 budget of $148.8 million with little discussion and just one comment from the public. The budget also includes a five year capital improvement plan pegged at $250 million.

Presenting the plan was budget director Katy Baumbach who described it as a “status quo” budget. Among other things the plan includes various capital improvement projects including the replacement of the Stockton Boulevard soundwall and numerous intersection improvements.

Baumbach also noted the budget calls for five new employees and a five percent merit-based wage increase for employees. The plan also calls for the establishment of an economic development office with a budget of $605,000.

During their deliberations council members generally praised the city staff for the preparation of the plan. Council member Pat Hume expressed concern that the city’s reserves have been trending downwards for the last several years and said he would be more comfortable if the city maintained a 20 percent reserve to general fund ratio.

The only public comment came from Elk Grove resident Michael Monasky who expressed dismay that there wasn’t more public participation. Monasky also questioned the wisdom of the establishment of the economic development office given the lack of results from the most recent efforts.

“I don’t believe any economic development is being done,” Monasky said.

Council member Sophia Scherman concurred with Monasky’s assessment of the lack of public participation in commenting on the budget. “I am disappointed,” Scherman said.

In addition to approving the budget, the council also heard a presentation on the city’s decennial redistricting process from consultant Matt Rexroad. During his presentation Rexroad presented four maps out of the 30 that were submitted that he felt met the legal requirement for redistricting that should be considered by the council.

After his presentation and receiving public comment, the council expressed interest in two of the maps presented by Rexroad – maps one and nine.

“I think [map] number one is an elegant map,” Hume said. After further discussion the council took a brief recess to make slight adjustments to map nine.

Immediately following the recess, Council Member Jim Cooper made a motion to accept map nine as the new boundaries. The vote was initially approved by a 4-0-1 vote with Hume abstaining. Scherman them commented that she thought she was voting for map one and asked to have her vote rescinded.

After comments from the audience regarding the procedure, City Clerk Jason Lingren said the council could not vote on accepting any of the proposed maps as the agenda did not include a resolution calling for the acceptance of a map.

The matter will be heard again at a future meeting.