Community Dialogue on Culver City Finances Tonight

The public is invited to attend a meeting in City Council Chambers at 7 p.m. to provide input on issues relating to the state of the City’s finances.

Over the course of the next four weeks, five separate meetings will be held by the City for residents to participate in a dialogue about the City’s finances.

The first of these meetings will be held tonight, Mon. June 18 in City Council Chambers at 7 p.m.

The City has decided to hold these meetings soliciting public input, following the recession in 2008 and the latest blow to City finances with the abolition of the Redevelopment Agency in February this year.

According to a City release:

In response to the onset of the economic recession in 2008 and continued raids on the City’s revenues by the State of California, the City has cut to the onset of the economic recession in 2008 and continued raids on the City’s revenues by the State of California, the City has cut millions in expenses, reduced by 71 the number of employee positions, lowered employee compensation, and increased the amount employees pay for retirement.  On February 1, 2012, through the dissolution of the Culver City Redevelopment Agency, the State redirected $7.5 million in local funds, erasing the expenditure reductions achieved by the City over the past three years.  The City Council is now faced with very difficult decisions to maintain the fiscal stability of the City while continuing to provide high quality City services, including Police, Fire, Parks, and Senior Services. 

At tonight’s meeting the City Council will discuss additional cuts that will have to be made, and it will also present a proposal to increase the City’s sales tax by .5 percent.

The City is calling on residents to attend tonight’s meeting and participate in the dialogue. For those unable to attend tonight, four additional meetings are planned for the following days and times:

• Sat, June 23, 10 a.m. at El Rincon Elementary School
• Mon. June 25, 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Rotunda Room
• Mon. July 9, 7 p.m. at Linwood Howe Elementary School
• Mon. July 16, 7 p.m. at City Council Chambers

In addition, residents can submit written comments to any or all of the meetings by doing so before 4 p.m. on the date of the meeting. For the June 23 10 a.m. meeting, submit comments before 4 p.m. on June 22.

You can submit comments either by mailing them to:

The City Clerk

City of Culver City,

9770 Culver Blvd.

Culver City, 90232

By Fax to the City Clerk: 310-253-6010

By Email to city.clerk@culvercity.org

For any further questions, please call Martin R. Cole, assistant City manager at 310-235-6000.

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