Manhattan Beach mayor upbeat in state of city speech
05.12.09
Manhattan Beach Mayor Portia Cohen stayed buoyant but realistic in her State of the City speech Friday, promising both hurdles and progress in the upcoming year.
"Our understructure is strong, but we have challenges ahead," she told a packed crowd over breakfast at the Belamar Tourist house.
Manhattan Beach has experienced depressed revenue from sales, hotel and business license taxes, Cohen said. Land taxes are growing, but at a slower rate than years past. And construction and building fee gain, though down, shows signs of improvement, she said.
In the coming year, the city will focus on utility infrastructure, as well as superannuate and labor costs, which Cohen characterized as a "systemic issue."
Storm water and streetlight funds could order reassessment as they are currently subsidized by general fund money, and balancing next year's budget will unhesitatingly necessitate more spending cuts, she said.
Also, the school district next year likely won't get another cash donation
Source: Daily Breeze