After saying goodbye to County Fire Division Chief John Chamberlin, and welcoming newly promoted Division Chief Tom Marshall, the Yucca Valley Town Council recognized two out-going commissioners: Gregory Hill, on the Parks Commission, and Vickie Bridenstine on the Planning Commission. Managing editor Tami Roleff says the council then talked revenue and budgets…
The town’s public facility development impact fees are imposed on development projects, such as housing, and commercial, office and industrial projects, to recover the costs to the town for future construction of infrastructure and improvements. Some of the projects the funds have been spent on are the animal shelter, parks, streets and storm drains, and trails; however, the Yucca Valley Town Council was advised that the available funds are not nearly enough to construct any significant portion of any project. The council then heard a report on the special revenue fund budget, which totals about $8 million in expenditures over the two-year budget of 2016-2018. Special funds include grants, gas taxes, assessments, Measure I funds, development impact fees, and various other funds. There are strict limitations on how special funds may be spent, and they are critical for the town to complete infrastructure projects. However, the special revenue funds are inadequate to meet the town’s needs, and things are about to get worse. The state’s gas tax revenue is plummeting (due to falling gas prices and lower gas taxes), which means the town’s share of the gas tax revenue is also nose-diving. The town’s gas tax revenue, which is about $250,000 to $350,000 this year, is projected to drop to $75,000 next year, which presents the dilemma of lots of expenditures with no receivables.
In other business, the council also heard an update about Grubstake Days. Various citizen groups have stepped up to organize a rodeo, carnival, pancake breakfast, golf tournament, beard contest, tug of war, and horseshoe tournament. There will also be a “Kids” Day” Monday, May 30, with games for children.
