On June 27, the Grover Beach City Council adopted a Revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 budget, establishing the blueprint for City services and projects for the next fiscal year.
The City of Grover Beach is in strong financial standing with an estimated surplus of $239,000 and a stable General Fund that maintains core services for the community. The sales tax and property tax revenues are each projected to grow nearly four percent in the next fiscal year, exceeding the original estimates outlined in the two-year budget for FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23. In addition, the City’s reserves are anticipated to close at 40% of operating expenditures, which surpasses Council’s reserve goal of 25% and allows the City to address any emergencies or possible uncertainty in the economy and plan for future needs of the community.
“It has not been easy navigating through the fiscal challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Mayor Jeff Lee. “We are extremely pleased to head into the next fiscal year with a strong budget that allows us to continue our programs and services in order to better serve our community. This would not have been possible without our staff’s dedication and countless hours of hard work.”
With a steady and stable revenue stream, the City plans to enhance City resources and infrastructure while maintaining sufficient reserves. The revised budget includes $9.2 million in funding for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which accounts for 26% of the total budget. The City is also investing in Measure K-14 funds for street improvements, Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds and Special Revenue Funds for additional capital projects to hone in on the four Major Council Goals, including Economic development, Housing and Homelessness, Public Safety and Street Improvements.
The City also received a population-based allocation of $3.2 million from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with the first disbursement of $1.6 million already received in FY 2021-22. These one-time funds allow Grover Beach to prioritize and invest in COVID-19 recovery programs that benefit local businesses and residents. To build on the programs the City Council directed staff to focus on the following services:
• Homelessness services and programs that will partner with the 5Cities Homeless Coalition, the winter warming center and other organizations.
• Enhancing Government Services to improve and enhance governmental services and allow the City to be more prepared for future events by partially funding a new Enterprise Resource Planning system.
• Aid to Local Businesses/Support for Tourism by working with the South County Chamber of Commerce and expanding economic development opportunities.
• Assistance to Households by supporting childcare needs for providers and families, as well as continuing the City’s utility assistance program.
• Assistance to Nonprofits that are serving Grover Beach residents.
“Grover Beach is dedicated to delivering the best programs and services for its residents and businesses,” said City Manager Matthew Bronson. “The budget adopted by our City Council is balanced with strong reserves and positions Grover Beach to continue making investments that make our City a great place to live, work and play.”
The Revised Budget for FY 2022-23 embodies the City’s innovation and commitment to Grover Beach’s continued prosperity. For more information about the City’s financial stability, visit the City website.