Calabasas Plans 3% Increase in 2-Year Budget

The Calabasas City Council is considering a two-year budget that represents a 3% spending increase over last year.

The proposed budget was presented Wednesday to the council, which will take it up again June 26. It will take a final vote July 10. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

The proposed budget calls for the city to spend $7.2 million for fiscal 1996-97, and $7.3 million the following year, said City Manager Charles Cate.

Some of the increase comes from the creation of two new positions, as well as merit-based pay increases of 5% or less for all city employees, Cate said. The budget also includes funding for the new city library and the construction and maintenance costs for a new city park, he said.

City staff has also introduced a capital-improvement budget of $3.5 million for fiscal 1996-97. It would cover 24 projects ranging from street repair to installation of welcome signs at the city limits. The largest share--$1.8 million--would go for the Old Town Calabasas face lift.

Under a proposed capital-improvement budget for fiscal 1997-98, 14 projects would be undertaken at a cost of $5.4 million, $4.5 million of which would go to proposed improvements to a bridge at Lost Hills Road over the Ventura Freeway, Cate said.