By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia

Glendale City Council last week adopted a $672 million budget for fiscal year 2017-18, which begins July 1.

The spending plan is a 3 percent drop from the previous budget of $692 million.

“This is my second budget as city manager,” City Manager Kevin Phelps told the City Council. “This budget, I think, was more challenging than last year.”

He said the balanced budget has had to absorb a $6.1 million increase in public safety pension.

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps

He called the budget a prudent one that keeps the city on track to realize a $50 million general fund balance or rainy day fund in two years. He also noted the council adopted a property tax rate that is lower than the previous year and that it was the second year in a row the city has dropped rates.

The budget, which the city manager said addresses a council priority by increasing money in park maintenance, includes $399 million for operations, $151.6 million for capital improvement projects, $77 million for debt service and $44.4 million for contingency. It earmarks $202.6 million total for the general fund with $131.5 million for public safety.

Councilwoman Joyce Clark said she only had one concern that she hopes will be addressed in the future. “This is a budget created by staff for staff,” she said. “There is no opportunity for council members to bring forth items that are important to their district or to residentsof Glendale as a whole.” She did, however, said the council do have a chance when it discusses capital improvement projects this fall.