The City Council will consider lowering the Utility Tax. City Finance Director, Charles Reiman, will give the necessary background in the City's need for revenue.
The City Council denied, for the present, an application for a religious solicitation permit by the Society for Krishna Consciousness. Public hearings on the matter will be continued to January 2, 1979.
The Board of Education approved a $17 million budget for 1979-80, representing an increase of 8.2% over last year. The budget provides an 8.19% increase in salary and benefits for certificated employees. A major problem appears in special education, which the state has not fully funded.
A $9 million budget has been proposed for 1975-76. City manager Lyman Cozad feels that no tax increase will be necessary due to the higher valuation of city property.
The Arcadia Board of Education approved a tentative $16.7 million budget. Included was an increase in special education programs. The figures are only estimates and will depend in part on any state school finance formulas to be decided.
The preliminary 1978-79 Arcadia School District budget has been approved. Public hearings will be held in September prior to the passage of the final budget.
Inflation and the energy shortage are causing the city management grave concern about meeting the budget. City Manager Lyman Cozad expects a $120,500 increase in sales tax from Fashion Park for the 1974-75 fiscal year. He also expects an $84,000 rise in property taxes.
Crime statistics for the first half of 1979 show a 4.6% overall increase in crime in Arcadia, despite a decrease in the number of violent crimes. This compares to an overall increase of 5.2% for the larger San Gabriel area.
Arcadia City Council must decide how to pay the Metropolitan Water District taxes for 1979-80. Currently the city pays 50% and the property owners pay 50%.
The first of several public hearings was held in re the Environmental Impact Report on proposed hillside development north of Foothills Junior High School. This represents one of the first tests of the city's new RM (Residential-Mountainous) zone.
The Realty Board has announced the following endorsements for the City Council election in April: Floretta Lauber; Charles Gilb; Irvin Livingston; Reuben Ruiz.
The Arcadia City Council has approved the environmental impact report for a proposed hillside subdivision north of Foothills Junior High School. Public hearings will follow.