CHOWCHILLA - The Chowchilla City Council, at its Tuesday Council meeting, unanimously passed its City Budget for the next fiscal year.  The balanced budget allocates $38,263,555 over a variety of departments and projects, with the largest portion of the budget supporting the City’s enterprise funds, which include its water, sewer, trash pickup, airport, and storm drainage system.  The next largest beneficiary of the budget is the General Fund, of which the majority of the money, 44.2%, supports the Police Department.

The budget process was guided by community input and the City’s Strategic Plan.  Starting months ago, the City Council conducted budget workshops and a townhall meeting to hear directly from its residents on how they want their money spent.  It also collected input though its monthly newsletter, its website and Facebook.  These comments were then matched against the goals set in the City’s strategic plan.  The end product is a budget focused on public safety, economic development, additional recreational activities, strong code enforcement, improvement of city streets, pursue funding for downtown hardscape, finish improving the water system including new wells and two 750,000 water tanks, and more.

Mayor Dennis Haworth stated, “This is a balanced budget -- that is what our citizen’s expect.  It also maintains our fiscal reserve of 39% of our budget.  Such a reserve assures our community that we will hold up our end of the deal guaranteeing strong public safety and growth in quality of life.”

Over the past few months, Chowchilla has seen robust growth in housing, making it the second fastest growing community in the central San Joaquin Valley at 8.57%.  Additionally, new restaurants, medical facilities and businesses have opened up in the City.  All these speak to a healthy budget as the year unfolds.

A copy of the budget can be found at the City’s website, www.cityofchowchilla.org, in the lobby of City Hall, and at the Chowchilla Public Library.