Stanton's Economic Recovery and Growth

By Carol Warren

STANTON'S SURVIVAL OF ITS FINANCIAL CRISIS WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY...

Dear Stanton Resident:

This letter is to update you on the budget and finances of the City of Stanton and the services provided to the residents.

Several months ago the Stanton City Council declared a fiscal emergency because of the loss of general fund revenue relative to many factors. It all began with the recession early in 2008 which created a shortfall to the city's revenue stream because of a marked decrease in property values, city-wide housing foreclosures, city sales tax losses due to unemployment and business failures.

After cutting the budget millions over a three year period compounded by the State of California's grab of $1.1 million in local city taxes leaving Stanton only $462,000 the city was facing bankruptcy in 2016.

Instead of sinking into the perfect economic storm or continuing towards bankruptcy your City Council working together with the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Orange County Fire Authority were able to make another budget savings totaling $4,343,429 dollars.

This guarantees a balanced budget and a safe level of protective services.

The first quarter of Stanton's economic outlook has shown signs of improvement and Stanton's economic recovery plan which was recently implemented has encouraged new business growth and produced an improving revenue stream by creating jobs and increased sales tax.

Stanton has cut its general fund $5,825,688 dollars plus a loss of over $11.1 million to the State of California theft annually. Yet under the council leadership our community has provided you a balanced budget, a stable economy and no bankruptcy in our future.

This was accomplished by taking early action adjusting our spending habits in 2008 when city staff first identified the financial difficulties created by the economic recession.

Your City Council took further measures to secure the service levels needed to keep our city safe. We asked for and received help from our Protective Service Partners including the Associated of Orange County Deputy Sherriff's and Orange County Professional Firefighters Association Local 3631.

Upon the recommendations of Fire Chief Keith Richter we replaced and engine paramedic unit with a fully staffed paramedic van to meet our EMT city-wide needs while retaining a fully staffed paramedic engine company to provide fire suppression and EMT calls.

These changes did not reduce the response times or level of service demanded by the emergency services guidelines regulated by the Board of the Orange County Fire Authority.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department staff reduction was recommended by Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchins and her staff. These reductions did not reduce any of the full-time patrol deputies that will continue their proactive law enforcement duties city-wide. Additional officers of our directed enforcement team will still be available upon request to handle special law enforcement needs.

Both the level of service and response times of the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Orange County Fire Authority will continue to be monitored monthly to assure that there will be no change in the level of safety needed to keep Stanton a safe community.

There will be no increase in the Utility User's Tax. The City Council voted recently not to place the new tax on the November ballot.

The council listened to the voters in June as they kept public safety funding for police and firefighters the cities number one priority after the voters passed Measure K with over 72% which expressed voter support for both the police and firefighters who serve our city.

We want to thank the volunteers who supported the Council's volunteer program to assist in keeping important city services going during these deep budget cuts.

The plan by our Chief of Police Jeff Passalaque to keep our Sheriff's station open during the week with trained volunteers has been very successful since its implementation three months ago.

Our Community Neighborhood Park Adoption program has also been successful in reopening two of the three closed parks. The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff's with their generosity donated funding to keep the waterpark open for the children of Stanton for the entire summer months. Local garage sales and fundraisers plus neighborhood volunteers are keeping Zuniga Park open the rest of the year while the Council is working with local businesses and charities for next year's funding. A similar volunteer program is in the works for Hollenbeck Park which the neighborhood is helping to get reopened.

Your Council and City Staff is overwhelmed with the support and community pride our residents and families have displayed during these incredible economic hardships that has befallen on our city. Once again we have pulled together to overcome the challenges to keep Stanton a Community of Pride and Forward Vision. We want to thank you for the confidence you have shown in your cities leadership and the support you have always given us in times of need. This community will always survive because of the strength of its unity as residents and its' sense of family.

Sincerely yours,

Carol Warren Mayor of Stanton