About the Budget from Mayor Dodge | Politics

Tuesday night the City Council unanimously approved a two-year Budget and Strategic Plan for the City of Watsonville. The $33 million General Fund Budget is balanced with no loss in Police and Firefighter positions. The budget will maintain current levels of Recreation programs, Neighborhood Outreach, Code Enforcement, Library Service and will provide other essential community services. The City Council had to overcome a $1.9 projected deficit due to the continuing impact of the National Recession on local revenues. Despite this, the City Council balanced the budget, preserved local jobs with minimal layoffs, while maintaining a healthy reserve fund as required by the City Charter.

Mayor Daniel Dodge stated, "First, I would like to thank our city employees. By agreeing to wage concessions and pension reform, we were able to maintain services to the public and save jobs. I have great appreciation for their continuing willingness to sacrifice for the good of the community. We know our employees have family and roots here in Watsonville and throughout Santa Cruz County. I would also like to thank the community for their work with the City Council in making Watsonville the progressive community that it is. "

"Now that we have balanced the budget, we will move forward with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan has specific projects to continue Watsonville’s efforts to "Go Green", to create an economic climate to promote new jobs, while working to revitalize our downtown corridor," stated Mayor Dodge.