Clayton's Budget in Relatively Good Shape

Status quo.

That's the theme of Clayton's 2011-12 budget, which was approved by the Clayton City Council on Tuesday night. Though residents shouldn't expect many new services in the coming year, current ones won't be cut.

The difference between this year's general fund budget and the 2010-11 budget is a measly .1 percent, going down from $3.656 million to $3.651 million. Compared to many California cities, Clayton's budget is in good shape. The city has a reserve fund of $5.1 million, or 140 percent of its general fund.

City Manager Gary Napper said the city has stayed strong financially thanks to sacrifices by city employees. For the last two years, they have taken 11 unpaid furlough days (equal to a 4.3 percent pay cut); had no cost-of-living adjustments or merit bonuses; and have absorbed the premium increases for medical and dental insurance. Labor union concessions have saved the city about $300,000 a year.

About 50 percent of Clayton's budget goes to the Police Department, which has a yearly budget of about $1.8 million. The next highest expense for the city is administration and finance, which costs about $830,000.

Some one-time expenses for the city in 2011-12 include a new police car ($37,000) and 17 new computers for City Hall, 10 new computers for the Police Department and nine police mobile data terminals (totaling about $130,000), all of which Napper said were overdue purchases that will improve efficiency.

 Council members praised Napper and Finance Manager Mary Pelletier for their work on the budget.

"We don't spend money we don't have," Councilwoman Julie Pierce said. "Gary and Mary count every dollar and do a great job."