BRAWLEY — A plan to incrementally reduce the utility users tax over the next eight years was urged Tuesday for City Council members to consider following last week’s passage of Measure K.
The idea Councilman Ryan Kelley proposed was discussed as a public hearing next Tuesday was set to discuss a contingency plan for weaning Brawley off of the 4 percent utility users tax, which was extended by voters Nov. 8 for another five years.
City Council members acknowledged the need for moving forward with such a plan, but City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore reminded the council that a $1.13 million shortfall also needs to be addressed.
A contingency plan the council adopted in case Measure K failed at the polls — a plan which called for steep cuts to a host of city services that included police, library and others — would not work to “bridge the gap” that the deficit presents, Moore said.
In past meetings, the utility tax has been said to provide an annual revenue stream of $1.9 million to the city’s general fund, which amounts to about 14 percent.
For the past three years, Kelley said during Tuesday’s meeting, the city has been dipping into the city’s reserve fund in order to help maintain the level of city services Brawley provides.
Councilman Sam Couchman urged fellow council members “to be careful about this,” with regard to making cuts, or taking any other action, in the effort to get off using the utility users tax to help keep Brawley’s finances stay afloat.
The idea Councilman Ryan Kelley proposed was discussed as a public hearing next Tuesday was set to discuss a contingency plan for weaning Brawley off of the 4 percent utility users tax, which was extended by voters Nov. 8 for another five years.
City Council members acknowledged the need for moving forward with such a plan, but City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore reminded the council that a $1.13 million shortfall also needs to be addressed.
A contingency plan the council adopted in case Measure K failed at the polls — a plan which called for steep cuts to a host of city services that included police, library and others — would not work to “bridge the gap” that the deficit presents, Moore said.
In past meetings, the utility tax has been said to provide an annual revenue stream of $1.9 million to the city’s general fund, which amounts to about 14 percent.
For the past three years, Kelley said during Tuesday’s meeting, the city has been dipping into the city’s reserve fund in order to help maintain the level of city services Brawley provides.
Councilman Sam Couchman urged fellow council members “to be careful about this,” with regard to making cuts, or taking any other action, in the effort to get off using the utility users tax to help keep Brawley’s finances stay afloat.
