Belvedere City Manager’s Blog

Fall is here and in the 2009 City Newsletter you will find articles on projects underway, some highlights of upcoming community events, and a synopsis of the City’s finances.  As  you know, the City prides itself on a history of self-reliance and believes this to be fundamental to good financial stewardship.  The City does not rely heavily on any Federal, State, or other non-local revenue source in the provision of services to the community.

Unfortunately, the State does not share the same sentiment and has balanced its budget with revenues dedicated to local government services.  The State’s recent budget adoption has resulted in the taking of huge amounts of money belonging to the CIty of Belvedere and hundreds of other cities, counties, special districts, and schools across California.  This “borrowing” of local funds will have a significant negative impact on the ability of local government to deliver its services.

Belvedere will lose roughly 8% or $300,000 of its general fund revenues from local property taxes.  Property taxes are used to provide a wide variety of local services including public safety, parks and facilities maintenance, capital projects, and the annual subsidy for fire services.  For more details, read the Fall 2009 City Newsletter coming to mailboxes this week…or the digital version online at:

http://www.cityofbelvedere.org/pdf/Fall_2009_Newsletter.pdf