Los Gatos approves budget for upcoming fiscal year

Town budget approved

The town unanimously passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on June 3.

Several measures to increase revenue and decrease expenditures that were mentioned during the May 20 meeting were included into the final resolution. Town Manager Chris Constantin gave the final presentation, saying that the budget would factor in full use of Measure G sales tax funds for the operational budget and the use of $900,000 from unassigned general funds, which functions as the town’s savings account. Although the budget is balanced this year, the town will be looking at a structural deficit of $900,000 in the future.

“The budget is legally balanced, but the town has a structural imbalance which will grow if not addressed,” Constantin said.

The budget factors in a 4.6% staffing vacancy rate. While the hiring of new police officers brought the vacancy rate closer to 3%, but retirements are expected to increase that figure.

Still, town staff said employees’ salaries and benefits were growing faster than the town’s revenue sources, with limited reserves to maintain programs and services. Other existing capital obligations, like buildings, parks and public infrastructure, also added to the financial pressure.

“When we have a resource, such as a library or a building, those resources have life cycle assets that need to be replaced,” Constantin said.

Constantin said that if revenues and expenditures stay as projected, the town could maintain full staffing of around 160 positions.

Pride in a property

New Museum Los Gatos and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve are collaborating on an event commemorating a historically influential partnership between two men.

Artists Frank Ingerson and George Dennison were known as “The Boys.” to their friends. They moved to the Los Gatos mountains in 1911 and called their home Cathedral Oaks. They were potentially the first common-law married gay couple in the nation.

NUMU staff will be hosting a free tour of its Los Gatos History Hall on June 13 at 2 p.m., with a special focus on “The Boys.” Volunteer program lead Ellen Gartside will be representing Midpen to talk about the volunteer stewardship work at Cathedral Oaks. That area has also been the site of targeted eucalyptus tree removal.

The Boys’ Cathedral Oaks home was a hub for like-minded artists and creatives. Midpen acquired the Cathedral Oaks property in the 1980s, and staff have been employing ecosystem restoration efforts in that area for over 12 years.