The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Daily News on a Weekly Basis - Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - May 24, 2018
Fit For Gold Grads Honored
Thirty-five high school and college students were honored May 17 during the 15th Annual Fit For Gold Tutoring & Fitness Academy Graduation Ceremony held at Rogers Park in Inglewood. The program
is operated by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB). Family members, training partners, educators and local elected officials from Inglewood as well as surrounding cities attended the
ceremony. Mayor James Butts joined with SBWIB Executive Director Jan Vogel Mr. Vogel to present two $500 scholarships provided by West Basin Water District and the SBWIB to Cadets Giovanna Gutierrez
from Inglewood Animo Charter High School, and Imani Bush of Gardena High School. Photo Provided by SBWIB. •
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Seniors..................................7
Food.......................................8
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals............................. 4,6,7
Pets........................................5
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
64˚/56˚
Saturday
Sunny
65˚/57˚
Sunday
Sunny
68˚/58˚
City Provides Glowing Financial
Picture with the Mid-Year Budget
By Haleemon Anderson
The mid-year budget review, delivered at
last week’s meeting of the Inglewood City
Council, deemed Inglewood in excellent fiscal
fitness with a robust reserve fund in tow
and spending in line with revenues. The City
is exactly where it should be at the mid-year
point in terms of revenue, according to Chief
Financial Officer David Esparza, who reported
that “49.4 percent of projected actual revenue
has been collected at this time. Overall general
fund revenues are up 11.5 percent, which is
very good news for the City.”
Esparza explained that the original operational
budget -- including capital projects -- contained
a projected $17,726 million shortfall. He said
City Manager Artie Fields came up with a
plan to bridge that shortfall by using reserves
and savings. In total, $11.5 million in reserves,
$3.7 million in healthcare savings and $2.5
million in vacant positions were used to plug
the deficit.
Esparza also gave an overview of key economic
indicators for the past year, noting revenue
increases in property and sales taxes as well
as building permits. Another area of increased
revenue was Hollywood Park. Unemployment
is at a record low and City expenditures were
under budget in the past year. One decline:
utility user taxes.
New developments are at a 591 percent increase
over the past year, according to Esparza.
Currently, there are 27 projects in construction
and 11 in the design phase.
Councilmember Alex Padilla, District 2, remarked
favorably to the estimate of 49 percent
expenditures at mid-year, saying, “This gives
us a quick idea of where we stand. Like every
other city, our budget is fluid and changing.
I want to thank staff for giving us such a
comprehensive report.”
Councilmember Ralph Franklin, District 4,
also acknowledged the staff’s effort to present
accurate and insightful budget information. “We
now have the flexibility to draw down on our
reserves, which is what it’s designed for,” he
said. He also noted health care cost reductions
and unfilled vacancies as effective cost-saving
measures advanced by staff.
Mayor James T. Butts also acknowledged Mr.
Esparza and the finance team. “They give us
honest numbers,” he said. “That has allowed
the Council to make a series of excellent
financial decisions. We want to run this city
like a responsible company. We have more than
quintupled our reserves over the last seven years
to $69 million from $11 million in 2011.” Butts
added that the current financial team helped
the City avoid receivership, and maintained
stability while staving off bankruptcy.
In her report, City Treasurer Wanda M.
Brown reported the City’s gross investment
interest for the month of April at $976,140 in
total. Brown also noted the City’s financial
solvency and pointed to the contrast in Stockton,
which declared bankruptcy in 2012 and was
“going broke after 15 years of freewheeling
spending.” Stockton’s bankruptcy bill was $41
million and includes three years of federally
supervised reorganization. Brown commended
the staff for keeping Inglewood from a similar
fate “as to where we were headed in 2010.”
Also on Tuesday, Pamela Manning from
LA County Public Works presented an initiative
from the Board of Supervisors. The Safe,
Clean Water program is pushing a measure on
the November ballot that would raise $300
million per year in tax revenue. According to
Manning, the Supervisors’ initiative “champions
a change to the way we capture water”
and proposes to develop a revenue source for
water. An estimated $300 million per year in
tax revenue would be generated, with 40 to 50
percent being available to cities. Inglewood’s
piece of the water pie could be upwards of
$400,000, said Manning.
Cities eligible for the funds would need to
develop a water quality use project, or use
funds for already existing projects, including
education. Disadvantaged communities would
be eligible for reimbursement of their tax liability.
“There are a lot of opportunities for
you to benefit the communities,” said Manning.
She added that “drain-off is going from storm
drains to the beaches to marine life.” The goal,
she said, is to collect, capture and send out
cleaner water to the oceans. The initiative will
be up for a motion at the May 30 meeting of
the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
and a public hearing on June 26.
In public comments, resident Diane Sambrano
expressed concern about action items having
no reports attached for community input. She
had questions about the mid-year report and the
staff who prepared it. She suggested residents
see how other communities make presentations
and observe the differences.
The Inglewood City Council meets every
Tuesday, unless otherwise noted, at 2 p.m. in
the council chambers on the 9th floor, Inglewood
City Hall. •