On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, the Ontario City Council unanimously approved a structurally balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 during a public Special City Council Meeting.
The total overall budget of $524,553,984, balanced without the use of any one-time monies, is consistent with the City Council’s goals and objectives to continue to preserve public safety levels, meet community and cultural needs, and deliver on critical capital projects. Ontario’s conservative approach to prudent fiscal management reflects an increase of 11.5% when compared to the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Adopted Budget matching ongoing expenditures to revenues. The budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 reflects modest growth in sales tax, property tax, and occupancy tax revenues.
“We continue to adopt and adhere to conservative fiscal policies while providing quality services for our community. As we move into the 2017-18 Fiscal Year, our partnerships with our labor groups allow us to continue creating a stable and healthy community,” said Mayor Paul S. Leon.
Ontario’s budget indicates that consumer spending is continuing to show signs of improvement, with further growth in overall retail sales as well as employment, combined with moderate gains in the housing market. Sales tax revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 grew approximately 9.6% compared to a year prior, with office equipment and light industry continuing to be the highest producing sectors. Home values are improving, as demonstrated by strong growth of 8.3% compared to the prior year in the median sale price of single-family homes in the Inland Empire for March 2017. Home sales also experienced robust gains of 8.5%. This is a result of home buyers’ attraction to value obtained in the Inland Empire due to significantly higher home prices in the Los Angeles and Orange County markets.
Council Member Ruben Valencia said, “The City’s continued growth makes it important for us to set goals and objectives that maintain the quality services and programs we provide for our youth. Expansion into the Ontario Ranch area as well as local control of the Ontario International Airport means an increase in personnel to help support the development in these areas.”
As the City continues to develop in the Ontario Ranch area and with local control of the Ontario International Airport (ONT), Maintaining the Current High Level of Public Safety remains a goal for the Ontario City Council. The budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 allocates an additional $4.3 million for the Fire Training Center expansion project; $1.0 million for the replacement of twenty‑one police vehicles; and $675,000 for the replacement of a fire water tender truck. Additionally, $2.0 million annually is set-aside to fund the Public Safety Equipment Reserve. Reimbursement from the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) of approximately $16.8 million will offset the expenses related to City fire and police staffing (27 positions in fire and 53 positions in police) dedicated toward airport safety and operations at ONT.
Council Member Alan D. Wapner said, “We are the logistics and transportation hub of all of Southern California, that’s why we are partnering with the Ontario International Airport Authority to grow the region’s most important economic and jobs engine. In addition to creating a tourism destination, it is also critical for the City to manage its major assets, such as the Ontario Convention Center, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario Town Square, as locations for all of the cultural, recreational, and library programs that the City has to offer.”
In addition to the budget, the City Council adopted eight supporting goals to guide City staff and community investments during Fiscal Year 2017-18.
”As we strategize on policy direction for City staff, we keep in mind how our actions today may affect tomorrow’s needs. By consistently thinking about the future, we are focused on building a better tomorrow for the residents and businesses in Ontario,” said Council Member Jim W. Bowman.
Other budget highlights include the following:
- $6.3 million for street pavement rehabilitation, traffic signage, handicap access ramps and other street related improvements;
- $1.1 million for replacement of the synthetic field at the Ontario Soccer Park;
- $500,000 for various improvements at City facilities and parks, including renovation of restrooms at Jay Littleton Ball Park and an installation of a new dog park in south Ontario, to be located at the Whispering Lakes Golf Course;
- $10.3 million for bridge undercrossing improvements at Fourth Street and Interstate 10 freeway;
- $2.4 million for Interstate 10 freeway interchange improvements at Vineyard and Euclid Avenues; and
- $2.1 million for the removal, replacement, and undergrounding of overhead utilities along Holt Boulevard.
Mayor pro Tem Debra Dorst-Porada said, “By investing heavily in the City’s infrastructure, we are creating a community that is unlike any other in the region. Our robust Capital Improvement Program allows us to analyze all of the infrastructure throughout the City and create a proactive economic development strategy that attracts business opportunities to provide resources that help create our balanced community.”
City Manager Al C. Boling closed the Special City Council Meeting by thanking the Mayor and City Council for their visionary leadership and prudent fiscal policy direction. The support that the Ontario City Council gives to produce high quality municipal services, maintenance and expansion, meet the needs of the City and allows reinvestment back into the community for long‑term benefits to the residents and businesses that call Ontario home.
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 Building A Better Tomorrow with 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.
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City of Ontario Press Contact: Al C. Boling, City Manager
Phone Number: (909) 395-2010