Belvedere plans for virus-related economic fallout in draft budget

Belvedere’s anticipated budget for next fiscal year braces the city for the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic by postponing annual raises for city staff, freezing hiring for a police officer position, eliminating funding for the public-lane initiative, withholding a contribution for the Belvedere-Tiburon Public Library expansion and slashing in half spending on capital-improvement projects. At its May 11 meeting, the Belvedere City Council reviewed a conservative $8.63 million draft budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 that plans for $8.88 million in revenues, leaving about $250,000 to carry over to the city’s reserves and for emergency expenses. The draft shows Belvedere is moving forward cautiously as it emerges from a coronavirus shutdown that has dramatically decreased economic activity since mid-March. (Elliot Karlan photo / For The Ark)

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