Los Angeles County's unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in December 2005, up from 5.1 percent the previous month but down from 6.5 percent a year ago. Arcadia has a 2.7 percent jobless rate.
Los Angeles County's unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent in November, down from 4.3 percent the previous month and 5.3 percent a year earlier. Arcadia's jobless rates appears on the chart at 2.1 percent, along with rates for other cities.
Arcadia city officials have adopted a voluntary water conservation program that aims to reduce annual water consumption by 10 percent. Currently there is a state wide drought and a local water supply shortage. Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has voted to raise water rates 14 percent in July 2009. The other two main sources of the city's water are the Main San Gabriel Basin and Raymond Basin.
Many San Gabriel Valley cities are seeing an increase in property tax revenues in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, namely San Marino, Arcadia, Bradbury, Alhambra and South Pasadena. Arcadia's property tax revenue is expected to be $3,359,282.80 compared to $3,294,314.77 in 2008-2009. Other cities' figures are given. In the average city, property taxes make up 11% of the city budget.
In this ailing economy, San Gabriel Valley property values have dropped significantly, as reflected in the county's home assessments. The county property roll is at $1.1 trillion, a nearly 1% decrease compared to 2008. Homeowners will have smaller tax bills but cities are having to reduce services and employees as they lose businesses, sales tax revenue, and property tax revenue. See a chart of Los Angeles County Assessor's Office property values report showing Arcadia and neighboring cities. Arcadia is a city whose 2009 value increased 2.2% compared to last year.
Officials estimate the infection rate of West Nile Virus is higher than what is currently known since health officials stopped testing dead birds where the virus is confirmed to be present. Arcadia and West Covina had high rates of infection among San Gabriel Valley communities.
The fate of several acres of hillside land, the last like it in the city, is pitting developers and property owners against neighbors who cringe at the prospect of earthmovers leveling the land.
Unemployment rates in Los Angeles County dropped to a record low in October. Countywide, the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent last month. Arcadia and several other San Gabriel Valley communities had unemployment rates below 3%.
A shortage of trauma centers leaves people in the East San Gabriel Valley unprotected. Officials from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments are upset that the valley received 1.4 percent of Measure B though it paid 19.8 percent of the tax.
Arcadia City Council approved the first of a projected series of ten annual 5% increases in the city water rate. Sewer and trash rates will also increase.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed taking 8% of the property tax that cities receive. That would mean a loss of $1,202,358 for Arcadia. A chart shows how much other local cities may lose.