COLTON COURIER We ekly
May 26 20 22
Vol 150 , NO. 23
Colton City Council acknowledges budget issues beyond 2022
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By Manny Sandoval
www.iecn.com
t the Colton City Council meeting on May 17th, the council approved the budget for the fiscal year 2022 to 2023 as part of the consent calendar.
The projected end-of-year costs for the city are expected to be $52,283,333, which is slightly higher than the expected revenue of $51,560,715. In order to meet its financial needs for the year, the budget includes the city pulling $677,618 from its general fund.
Basketball spor ts update from Caden Henderson Pg. 3
Regarding the current budget-balancing strategies, Colton City Manager, Bill Smith said, “To be clear, the proposed operating budgetbalancing strategies to address the city’s continued fiscal challenges, following an extremely difficult year are neither recommended nor sustainable for the fiscal
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The city points to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for its financial shortcomings.
“The proposed budget reflects our current fiscal reality as a result of the ongoing, extended pandemic, related economic challenges and continued resource limitations,” said Smith.
As part of its report, the city also included some of its near-term financial challenges which include, inflation and supply chain distribution, staffing challenges, Colton City Council and city staff working together to bring forward revpensions costs and homeless- enue enhancement strategies for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal year on ness. May 17th. The city points to supply chains as a reason it can’t provide services, while the city’s struggle with staffing stems from its inability to provide competitive compensation. The city claims pension
The city claims pension increases are squeezing its ability to maintain services while staying within its resources.
As for homelessness, the city didn’t exactly point to how it affected the
city financially, but did point to its current funding for cleanup in the budget. Budget, cont. next pg.
C o l t o n Wo m e n ’ s C l u b A w a r d s t h o u s a n d s o f d o l lar s to the city’s youth
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By Dr. G
May 30th is M e m o r i a l D a y. T hank you to all in unifor m, w ho ’ ve sa crificed much in the line of duty
health of Colton in the long term.”
t the May monthly business meeting, the Colton Woman’s Club awarded their annual Youth Scholarship to Maximo Ramos, Senior at Colton High School.
Among six qualified entries, Maximo was awarded the $1,000 scholarship based on his academic record, written essay, and citizenship.
For over 40 years, the Colton Woman’s Club, located at the corner of No. Seventh Street and F Street, has offered a scholarship to a deserving senior who will be graduating and continuing their education at the college level. Maximo Ramos has stated, “My dreams and aspirations for my future are to attend college, and pursue a career in the business field or
medical field.”
During the interview, Maximo offered further explanation by saying that,” Either of these career choices will allow me to affect people’s lives directly.”
When the award presentation came up, Maximo accepted the opportunity to speak and explained that he had to face many challenges in his life, including the time when his mother developed cancer.
As these situations presented themselves, Maximo took it upon himself to set his mind on continuing his education to the best of his ability, but do what he can to help his famiPHOTO Dr. G ly, which includes his mother Veronica, and his younger (Left to right): Colton Women’s Club Scholarship Chair Debbie Mount, 12th Grade Student Maximo Ramos; Eigth Grade Student Santiago Scholarship cont. next pg. Ramos, and Mother Veronica Velasco.