The Yucca Valley Town Council got a “State of the Town” briefing last night from outgoing Mayor Merle Abel. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was there and has details…
One of the last actions Mayor Merl Abel did at the Yucca Valley Town Council meeting last night, before he handed over the gavel to the new mayor, Robert Lombardo, was to give The State of the Town address.
Entitled “Positive Growth During Economic Uncertainty,” Able reviewed some of the Town’s priorities. “Public safety is one of the top priorities. Included in this year’s budget is full funding for all of the existing Sheriff Deputy levels and a restoration of the Town’s Sheriff Safety Specialist.” However, the Town Council faced difficult decisions this past year. “In the budget process this year, we shared the difficult decisions that the Town was faced with, primarily, that projected expenditures were outpacing projected revenues.” Abel reminded residents how the Council balanced the budget. “The adopted budget included a reduction in full-time positions by 15 percent, from 42 full-time equivalent employees to 35 full-time equivalent employees.” Abel then extolled the benefits of living in Yucca Valley—the Town’s parks and recreation programs (including the Hi-Desert Nature Museum)—and the new businesses coming to town: the Super Wal-mart, Tractor Supply Company, Ross, the Warren Vista Center, Marshalls and Petco, the senior housing project, the golf course, Desert Vista Village, and Oasis Health Care. The Council named George Huntington as mayor pro tem.
