FRESNO DESK - Fresno strong mayor Jim Patterson published on Thursday the most startling document in Fresno's history for the past 40 years. It is the 1998-99 City Budget proposal. Thursday, the Mayor announced City Hall's intention to increase public safety, neighborhood improvements and restart the economic engine of the downtown area.
Patterson's vision of Fresno has a proposed budget that is nearly 2% lower than the present 1997-98 City Budget of $632.5 million.
Patterson told reporters the his budget is balanced, and contains no new taxes or fee increases. He also said some sewer fees and water connection fees would be reduced.
He said, 'This is a budget that takes the people's money and spends it on things that the people want...a safe city, a prosperous city and a city that is attractive.'
To keep the City that way Patterson allocated more than $1 million for reducing juvenile crime.
No 'discretionary speed-bump funds' were allocated this time for Council members' districts. One of the huge spending areas of Council members this year has been the $140,000 discretionary spending they voted for themselves.
Patterson told City officials that his 1998-99 City Budget adds 15 police officers to the 623 force, rebuilds the Fire Department by adding 10 firefighters, 4 battalion chiefs, and a new ladder truck. The Mayor's vision includes revitalizing downtown by removal of parking meters and opening the north and south ends of Fulton Street to vehicles.
He will start a dozen more new Neighborhood Revitalization projects and clean up the streets with much needed tree trimming, street improvements, code enforcement and problem-oriented police activities.
The Mayor has finally got it right. But, the City Council just can't see it, yet.
The mayor is scheduled to officially announce the budget content to the City Council on May 12. After that, the Council will conduct public hearings on it.
Already there is a contentious spirit emerging on the City Council. Council members Henry Perea and Chris Mathys want to put back district budgets, and have questioned the new jobs in Patterson's budget proposal.
Council member Ken Steitz is showing he has no problem with the lack of district budgets. He said a key item in the budget is an internal audit to review operations, procedures and management.
