Once again, Morongo Valley citizens turned out in large numbers last night for the Community Services District’s second budget workshop. Assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz has this report …
Last night was the CSD’s second budget workshop. It picked up where the first one left off. And so with surgical precision, the volunteer board and motivated public in attendance, trimmed and cut their way toward a balanced budget. “Not just balanced,” said CSD general manager Donna Munoz, “but with a $6,000 cushion.” What was spared was fire department personnel. What was cut were streetlights. The plan calls for turning out streetlights for a net gain of $4,000. Lights on the highway will stay on courtesy of Caltrans; the lights at Covington Park will also stay aflame. The next step toward settling the fiscal 2016-17 budget is at a public hearing and likely board approval at the July 19 CSD meeting. But even with this proposed balanced budget, footing at the CSD remains shaky because the Local Agency Formation Commission must be satisfied the CSD budget is sound and its operations sustainable. LAFCO’s August agenda calls for a review of the CSD.
A FULL HOUSE FOR MORONGO VALLEY CSD BUDGET WORKSHOP
