Bright Budget in Sunnyside
SUNNYSIDE -- Most cities across the nation are cutting services and jobs to balance their budgets, but cutbacks and layoffs are nowhere to be found in the City of Sunnyside.
In fact, due to carryover money from the last budget, Sunnyside has the money to build a new playground, reopen city hall an extra day, and even hire new workers. Not only is Sunnyside's budget balanced, it actually has money to create two new jobs, meaning two more officers out on the street.
The Police Chief says when they're staffed the right way, crime drops. It's a relief to those in the Lower Valley. As a mother of five, Anglica Mota is happy to hear the news. "We do need them there's a lot of gangsters out on the street," she says.
The 2011 budget also sets aside $50,000 towards downtown revitalization. Action News learned this is just the start of more money spent to redo the downtown. So how did Sunnyside do it when so many others can not?
City Manager Mark Gervasi said the city watched its money and is continuing to do so. But what about that time Sunnyside thought it had less money than it did, and made cutbacks because of it?
The city manager admits there were mistakes before but they are now on top of things.
"Our finance director does a good job is a good steward and he knows what he's doing," says Gervasi.
Sunnyside leaders are confident the city will even carry nearly $8 million into the next budget. Planning on more bright days for Sunnyside and although Sunnyside is expanding more than any other city in the lower valley this coming year, all of the budgets in the lower valley communities Action News looked at are balanced and free of layoffs.
In fact, due to carryover money from the last budget, Sunnyside has the money to build a new playground, reopen city hall an extra day, and even hire new workers. Not only is Sunnyside's budget balanced, it actually has money to create two new jobs, meaning two more officers out on the street.
The Police Chief says when they're staffed the right way, crime drops. It's a relief to those in the Lower Valley. As a mother of five, Anglica Mota is happy to hear the news. "We do need them there's a lot of gangsters out on the street," she says.
The 2011 budget also sets aside $50,000 towards downtown revitalization. Action News learned this is just the start of more money spent to redo the downtown. So how did Sunnyside do it when so many others can not?
City Manager Mark Gervasi said the city watched its money and is continuing to do so. But what about that time Sunnyside thought it had less money than it did, and made cutbacks because of it?
The city manager admits there were mistakes before but they are now on top of things.
"Our finance director does a good job is a good steward and he knows what he's doing," says Gervasi.
Sunnyside leaders are confident the city will even carry nearly $8 million into the next budget. Planning on more bright days for Sunnyside and although Sunnyside is expanding more than any other city in the lower valley this coming year, all of the budgets in the lower valley communities Action News looked at are balanced and free of layoffs.
