e e k l y W EL CHICANo Vol 57, NO. 28
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.com
July 04, 201 9
Mexican Consulate wraps up month-long cultural activitie s pr og ram f or youth Community News
THIS WEEK Gloria’s Cor ner Pg. 3
G
ary Ferrer and his dance troupe were invited to the Mexican Consulate by Unidos Por La Musica to showcase folklorico dance to youth in the community for three days through the Consulate’s month-long cultural activities youth program. According to Alejandro Barajas of Community Affairs at the Consulate, the summer program collaborative with Unidos Por La Musica is designed to provide support to low income families who lack childcare, while exposing youth to Mexican culture, heritage and traditions in the first segment of the program, and art and dance during the second.
Have a sa fe 4th of Ju l y w ee ken d
More photos on next pg.
T
he 2019/2020 operating budget was approved by San Bernardino City council on Wednesday, June 19th.
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INSIDE Gloria’s Corner
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Words To Think About 5 Opinion
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Legal Notices
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MJ DUNCAN
San Ber nardino’s 2019/2020 operating budget features salar y decreases and budget cuts By Manny B. Sandoval
Middle school gir ls lear n about cyber security
IECN PHOTO
Gary Ferrer and his dance troupe were invited to showcase folklorico dance at the Mexican Consulate Monday through Wednesday.
While the budget was passed by four councilmembers, Sandra Ibarra, Fred Shorett and James Mulvihill did not support the item. Imminent changes in the new budget include City of San Bernardino departments being required to reduce budgets by seven to eight percent, salary cuts to the elected city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer, and plans to extend Measure Z. “This is a tough budget. It’s not a pleasant experience to go through...having to significantly reduce department budgets. It is even tougher to reduce the salaries of elected officials that I’ve worked with since I’ve been here. Again, I appreciate the work they do and this is no reflection of their work performance. But, it is a reflection of the reality that these are offices that have changed significantly since we enacted the new charter,” said Councilman Henry Nickel.
The operating budget presented to the council showed an $11.2 million general fund deficit; expenditures to retain current levels of operation in the city are estimated to cost $138.6 million, while the city only has $127.4 million in general fund revenues. In response to the city attorney’s salary decrease from $184,700 to $100,000, the city clerk’s from $128,600 to $52,500, and the treasurer’s from $50,200 to $5,000, Nickel gave reason as to why those salary decreases were made. “Specifically if we look at the 2016/2017 budget, the budget for the city clerk’s office was $2,077,951. The city clerk administrations salaries combined were $286,557. However, at that time there was also a business registration section, and personnel cost for business registration actually exceeded the city clerk’s budget, total salaries were $397,069,” continued Nickel. “If we look at the budget today, since 2016, the city clerk’s office budget has been cut in half. There were 10 full-time employees in 2016/2017, going into 2019/2020 there are only five. The budget has been cut from over $2 million, to under $1 million,” Nickel
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MANNY B. SANDOVAL
On June 19th, in a 4-3 vote, San Bernardino City Council approved the 2019/2020 operating budget. said, adding that he and his fellow council members (who approved the budget) felt the salary cuts were appropriate, given the diminished responsibilities and lighter workload in the departments. During discussion, Nickel also stated that the Mayor John Valdivia’s chief of staff was not a new position in the city. “Also, we had a chief of staff for the prior mayor and total pay was about $130,000. So that is not a new position. I will say, we need to make sure that we are
fully accountable for the taxpayers dollars. I ask that we get a regular report of performance on a quarterly basis on how many constituents are being served and what matters are being handled from the chief of staff,” continued Nickel. Mayor Pro-Tem Bessine Richard seconded Nickels comments in regards to the Valdivia’s chief of staff. “I do agree with Henry Nickel...as far as chief of staff, this is not a new position. I defiBudget, cont. on next pg.