Arcadia city officials have approved across-the-board fee increases that are expected to generate $500,000 in revenue this year. Parking tickets will go up from an average of $40 to $50. Other fees going up include building permits, towing fees, business license fees, water, street, and engineering services.
Arcadia will benefit from the State Municipal Advisory Reform Team : Enhanced Report (SMARTER) plan for restructuring local government finance which will help stop the city's dependence on sales tax.
Backers of an initiative that would bring slot machines to Santa Anita Park and other California racetracks now have five months to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
If Proposition 68 is approved on the 2004 ballot, slot machines will be operated at Santa Anita Park. This is a statewide initiative about which City of Arcadia officials remained neutral.
In this season of giving, donations are slowly returning to pre-recession levels as the economy gradually improves. Giving tends to increase when the economy is strong. Data from the "How America Gives" report shows the charitable deductions claimed by United States taxpayers on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) returns for 2008. It shows Arcadians gave $54.1 million to charity, or 4.7 percent of their incomes.
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.
"State of the City" address was given by City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto at an event hosted by Arcadia Chamber of Commerce. Due mainly to solid property, utility and sales tax revenue, Arcadia has remained fiscally sound despite a sluggish state and national economy. Overall in 2014, the city received $56.9 million in revenue and spent $54.7 million.