Ontario’s Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a structurally balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19 during a public Special City Council Meeting held on Monday, June 18, 2018.
• The total overall budget of $589,033,225 is consistent with the Mayor and City Council’s Strategic Goals:
• Invest in the Growth and Evolution of the City’s Economy
• Maintain the Current High Level of Public Safety
• Operate in a Businesslike Manner
• Pursue City’s Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Governmental Agencies
• Focus Resources in Ontario’s Commercial and Residential Neighborhoods
• Invest in the City’s Infrastructure (Water, Streets, Sewers, Parks, Storm Drains and Public Facilities)
• Encourage, Provide or Support Enhanced Recreational, Educational, Cultural and Healthy and City Programs, Policies and Activities
and
• Ensure the Development of a Well Planned, Balanced, and Self-Sustaining Community in Ontario Ranch
Ontario’s conservative approach to prudent fiscal management reflects a Budget increase of 10.3% when compared to the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Adopted Operating Budget, matching ongoing expenditures to revenues.
Ontario’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19 reflects modest growth in sales tax, property tax, and hotel tax revenues. The local economy is continuing to show signs of growth, with healthy gains in employment and home sales. The national labor market continues to create new jobs to keep up with population and labor force growth, and home sales experienced a strong gain of 41% over last year. During this economic growth cycle, Ontario continues its transformation as the next urban center in Southern California.
Maintaining the Current High Level of Public Safety remains a top priority for the Ontario City Council. The budget allocates an additional $1.0 million for the Fire Training Center expansion project; $2.6 million for replacement of three fire pumper trucks; $1.7 million for the purchase of a fire ladder truck for the additional fire station in Ontario Ranch; and $1.0 million for the replacement of nineteen police vehicles and three police motorcycles. Annually, $2.0 million is set-aside to fund the Public Safety Equipment Reserve.
“We continue to provide the highest level of public safety services to our residents and businesses. We keep in mind how our actions today may affect tomorrow’s needs; and our partnership with our Police and Fire Departments allows us to continue creating a stable and safe community,” said Mayor Paul S. Leon.
The City continues to invest in projects and programs that help Ontario’s businesses grow and evolve. Mayor pro Tem Alan D. Wapner said, “We are the logistics and transportation hub of all of Southern California. We have a strong and practical economic development strategy that attracts opportunities and provides the jobs vital to create a prosperous community. We are also partnering with the Ontario International Airport Authority to grow the region’s most important economic and job creation engine.”
Recognizing the key role that the Ontario International Airport plays in the regional economy, Council Member Jim W. Bowman stated, “Our goal from the start was to provide convenient and competitively priced air service for travelers from the Inland Empire, Orange County and Eastern Los Angeles County. Ontario continues to post strong, steady gains in passenger volumes; adding new air service on a regular basis, transforming dining and retail concessions and providing amenities that are popular with business and leisure travelers.”
Additional budget highlights include the following:
• $7.8 million for street pavement rehabilitation, traffic signage, handicap access ramps and other street related improvements;
• $14.3 million for two multi-family housing projects in the City’s downtown area;
• $1.7 million for improvements at Anthony Munoz Park and Community Center;
• $200,000 for the replacement of the historic scoreboard at Jay Littleton Ball Park;
• $700,000 for various improvements at City facilities and parks, including replacement of aging heating and air conditioner units at De Anza Community & Teen Center, and the renovation of the restrooms at De Anza Park;
• $750,000 related to developing an innovative tech incubator accelerator for over three years in the City’s downtown area;
• $20.1 million in various capital improvement projects throughout the City; and
• $11.9 million for several ongoing citywide utilities programs that include replacement of water pipelines, replacement of sewer mains, the purchase of new and the replacement of existing water meters, and improvements to back-up electricity power at City well facilities.
Improvements to community facilities and parks continue to be a priority for the City, as directed by the City Council’s goal to Encourage, Provide or Support Enhanced Recreational, Educational, Cultural and Healthy City Programs, Policies and Activities.
“It is important for the City to effectively manage its major assets as community gathering spots for all of the cultural, educational, recreational, and library programs that the City has to offer,” said Council Member Debra Dorst-Porada. “The City’s continued growth makes it important for us to set goals and objectives that maintain the high quality services and programs we provide for our residents.”
The Council’s goal to Invest in the City’s Infrastructure (Water, Streets, Sewers, Parks, Storm Drains and Public Facilities) remains an important component of Ontario’s budget. Council Member Ruben Valencia added, “Ontario is committed to maintaining and improving our infrastructure. Our Capital Improvement Program allows us to manage and analyze all of the infrastructure throughout the City, identify needs, and make decisions that ensure City assets remain valuable additions to the community.”
City Manager Scott Ochoa closed the Special City Council Meeting by thanking the Mayor and City Council for their leadership, vision and practical fiscal policy direction. The continued support of the Ontario City Council provides for high quality municipal services, maintenance, and expansion of City infrastructure and facilities, meeting the needs of residents and businesses and allowing for reinvestment back into the community.
For more information about services provided by the City of Ontario, please visit www.ontarioca.gov.
About the City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is Leading the Way in creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play. Located just 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as Southern California’s gateway. With three major interstates, two railroads and the Ontario International Airport, Ontario offers direct access from Los Angeles to the rest of California, and to North America. With approximately 170,000 residents and residential development on the rise, Ontario looks to double its population in the next 20 years, making it one of the 100 most populated Cities in the nation. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario dazzles with its amenities such as the Ontario Convention Center, Citizens Business Bank Arena, and the Ontario Mills Mall. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit www.ontarioca.gov or call (909) 395-2000.