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Published on 06/02/1999 All articles from this issue

Special meeting this Thursday focuses on new Los Altos Hills budget

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Town Crier Staff Report

The budget numbers look good in Los Altos Hills. This may allow hiring of additional public works staff and rebuilding a termite-ridden Town Hall.

Los Altos Hills City Council members will be discussing goals and objectives and a proposed budget for fiscal year 1999-2000 at a special meeting scheduled for 4 p.m., Thursday, at Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road.

The proposed budget, forwarded by City Manager Jeff Peterson, notes total revenues for the town in 1999-2000 projected at $4.33 million, a 2.7 percent increase over the 1998-99 adjusted budget.

"Once again, development activity continued at higher levels than anticipated, prompting a mid-year increase in revenue projections of $215,000," according to the budget document council members will review Thursday. "Indeed, the Silicon Valley economy continued to grow at a healthy clip, a pace that was reflected in higher permit and tax revenue than projected in the adopted budget."

Total operating expenditures for the town are projected at $5.4 million for 1999-2000, according to the proposed budget. This represents an 8.9 percent increase over the 1998-99 adjusted budget.

The general-fund budget notes two "major" projects that could tap into town funds considerably. One is the need for a new Town Hall facility in the wake of a consultant's recent report that noted major problems with the current structures. The inspection concluded that "although major repairs are necessary, most would not be economically practical due to the extent of deterioration and need for additional space for Town Hall operations," the budget document stated.

The other "major fiscal project" is the need for greater maintenance for the town's streets, drainage and pathways. The budget document recommends hiring two additional maintenance workers to the town's public works crew. In addition, the document notes the hiring of a city engineer may be necessary because it is unlikely the town will find someone, such as Peterson, who has filled both city engineer and city manager roles. Peterson, who announced his resignation in April, will leave June 11.