City of Inglewood Revenue Decreases 2% in Proposed FY 2019-2020 Budget, Water Rates Scheduled to Increased

The city of Inglewood regular city council agenda for this week is full of must see items. The council, led by Mayor James Butts, will be asked to consider increasing water rates, approving legal contracts, accept advanced funds from developers and hear the proposed FY 2019-2020 budget which is down 2% from FY 2018-2019.

Legal claims filed against the city, for non payment of property access rights for digital billboards along LaCienega, prompted the city to ponder approving a contract with Meyers Nave Riback Sliver & Wilson who specialize in eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters. The latter was alleged by a company who gave up their land for the erection of two digital billboards. City Manager Artie Fields signature continues to fluctuate as indicated by the accompanying staff report attached to this request.

Related: Jewish Foundation Files Claim Against City of Inglewood

In addition to acquiring vacant parcels, along Market Street, owned by the Inglewood Successor Agency, & Inglewood Housing Authority, a staff report is requesting acceptance of advanced funds by Thomas Safran and Associates, indicate Safran is also owner of the Fox Theatre. A historic landmark also on Market Street.

Mutiple Limited Liability Corporations, are attached to the parcel identified as 355 La Colina Drive, and registered to Terri Riker and Jennifer Tulius have submitted an advanced funds agreement to develop the project in accordance with Transit Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines, as the parcels lie directly north of the incoming Metro rail line.

Council is also being requested to reallocate $200,000 of HOME program funds, previously advertised for homeowners to rehab their homes and bring up to code, will now be used to house the city’s homeless. The staff report indicates the program was implemented in FY 2016-2017, but placement didn’t begin until FY 2017-2018. CDBG funds continue to be allocated to sidewalk repairs as opposed to increasing housing vouchers under the Section 8 program.

Related: South Pasadena’s alleged misuse of Community Development Block Grants mirrors city of Inglewood’s possible misuse

The advertising of the HOME program caused last week’s city council meeting to be abruptly recessed when resident Joe Texeira called out the council for paying $5,000 to advertise the program in a newspaper owned by a campaign consultant to Mayor Butts.

Related: Inglewood Removes Audio from Today’s Council Meeting

The city’s finance department has revealed the water department is running a severe deficit that is being shored up by the general fund. The resident have never heard of such during any of the previous quaterly/mid year budget presentations. The city will hire Bucknam and Associates to conduct a water rate study. Water rates are slated to increase on October 1, 2019. The first day of FY 2019-2020.

Finally, despite all of the alleged “prosperity” due to hit the city of Inglewood in 2020, with the opening of the NFL stadium next summer, the Finance department will present a 2% decrease in the FY 2019-2020 budget detailing operating expenses of $251,790,710.

This breakdowns to $125,419,450 in expenditures and $125,511,425 in reserves. Revenue is projected to be $125,511,425 which explains the water rate increase.

Residents are expected to see a remarkable surplus of $91,885 which is is approximately $30,000 more than our projected surplus of FY 2018-2019. How’s that for “prosperity”?

View the FY 2019-2020 proposed budget by clicking here.