Costa Mesa approves money for central library, fire station and sports lighting in annual budget

The central library, fire station and sports field lighting won support Tuesday night when the Costa Mesa City Council approved the 2015-16 fiscal year budget.

City officials said the $147.8-million budget, which takes effect July 1, funds key priorities while not dipping into general fund reserves.

Councilwoman Sandy Genis was the lone dissenter, voting against approving the budget. Following the meeting, she said she agreed with the funding of certain projects but objected to the city spending about $151 million based on about $139 million in projected revenue — essentially, more money than it takes in.

But officials said the spending plan is balanced using carry-overs from sources other than the general fund, which was actually boosted by $500,000.

“I don’t think it’s conservative, period,” Genis said, adding that the budget doesn’t leave enough leeway for another recession.

Still, the remaining four council members and other supporters called it a document that addresses the needs of many in an eclectic community and keeps it a family-friendly place while also investing its infrastructure.

“We have more than enough money in this community to do the things we want to do,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. “We just have to make sure we prioritize and do those things.”

City officials said the document predicts small increases in tax revenue — particularly sales tax, which alone accounts for about 45% of the general fund. It also represents a 5.7% increase over last year’s adopted budget of $139.9 million.

Among the roughly $22 million worth of capital improvement projects in the plan are $1.67 million to help replace the 1960s-era fire station on Royal Palm Drive and $4 million toward a new library at Lions Park or the remaking of the Neighborhood Community Center to serve as the library.

Councilman Gary Monahan said the budget “hits a lot of priorities,” such as the $1.9 million for permanent lighting at athletic fields owned by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Adding lighting, officials said, would allow the city’s bustling youth sports community to play after dark.

Youth sports boosters praised the council for investing in lighting, a long-debated topic in the city. The next step, they said, will be getting the school district, which owns most of the athletic fields in Costa Mesa, onboard and chipping in funding as well.

“Going to the school district with this budget, I think, can speak volumes,” said parks Commissioner Brett Eckles, who is also a youth sports coach.

But parks Commissioner Bob Graham said the budget didn’t seem to address things like replacing broken swings and park benches and he objected to spending $265,000 to improve City Hall’s parking lot, which needs resurfacing. That money could go toward park improvements that would make a big difference to their everyday users, he said.

“Let’s put it off a year,” Graham said of the parking lot project. “Nobody will miss it.”

Monahan noted that the budgeting process was not marked this year by fighting among the five council members about who gets what.

“I think this has been one of the easiest budgets I’ve seen in a long time,” he said.