Aliso Viejo Passes $22.7-Million Budget, Honors Students

The Aliso Viejo City Council passed a $22.7 million budget Wednesday night with 7.7 million in reserve and no layoffs or cuts to services. 

Officials also approved a $6.3 million contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, a $126,594 increase compared to last year's contract.

“We beat the state hands down every year,” said a visibly happy referring to how quickly the city passed the budget compared to the notoriously late state budget.

“It’s routine for Aliso Viejo because we’re fabulous,” Cave said, after the meeting. “We [the city] learn a lot over the years, [and] we have been very prudent with our funds.”

City Staff plans to end the 2011-12 fiscal year with a positive cash flow of $368,985 and an unassigned reserve of $7.7 million, according to Gina Tharani, city treasurer.

The city expects about $13.8 million in revenue and about $13.4 million in expenditures in 2011-12. 

The budget also includes a $30,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, $10,000 more than last year.

Other projects funded in the budget include lights at Foxborough Park, shade structures at Woodfield Park, pavement rehabilitation at Pacific Park road and the second phase of the Town Center loop trail.

“We’re adding significantly to our fund balance,” said City Manager Mark Pulone. “We feel good about the coming year.”

The City Council also OK’d a law enforcement contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for $6.3 million.

The number is $126,594 higher than in 2010-11 fiscal year, a 2.05 percent increase.

However, because the city shares a school resource officer with Laguna Niguel, the revenue from that, about $43,500, will lower the contract cost increase to about 1.35 percent.

According to a staff report, the reason for the increase in the overall sheriff's contract costs include a hike in employee benefits and rising transportation costs, especially the price of fuel.

The council's June 15 vote includes a $203,328 two-year contract for crossing guard services.

Public safety costs make up about 49 percent of budget expenditures, according to Tharani.  

The new sheriff’s contract includes no layoffs or cuts to services, according to Lt. Bob Osborne, chief of police services.

Osborne said that new contract is “absolutely” beneficial to residents, and his officers have done an excellent job serving the city.

After the meeting he praised the council for its decisions, calling officials  “far-sighted.”

“You listen to their arguments and you don’t find fault with them,” Osborne said.

Other Business

• Parents and students crowded council chambers to learn who won $1,000 scholarships from the City of Aliso Viejo.
  The winners, all city residents and students at Aliso Niguel High School, 
  include Whitney Leets, Meghan Dutt, Heather Bastio, Justine McMillin, Brandon Ialenti, Azra Skeljo, Bridget Pettit, Lauren Grant, Jessica Forino, Noelle Vaughn, Min Jee (Lisa) Jung and Alexis Moore.
• The council also honored five members of the Girl Scout Troop 408 for receiving the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. Those winners were  Samantha Mooney, Alexis Moore, Mayesha Huq, Amy Vu and Lauren Labac.
• Officials recognized two Aliso Viejo Middle School students and five Don Juan Avila Middle School students who were named champions in their categories in a National History Day competition and went on to the state finals in San Jose. The students: from Aliso Viejo Middle School—Daniel Kim and Calliee Ferreira. From Don Juan Avila Middle School—Forrest Li, Nicolas Padilla, Lauren Firks, Sienna Walker and Laeticia Bettinger.
• Local flag football team U8 Bulldogs led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Upcoming events

The city’s 10th anniversary dinner is July 1

The city’s 10th anniversary birthday bash is July 2.