Are You OK With Walnut Creek's 2010-12 Budget?

The Walnut Creek City Council Tuesday evening is set to adopt a $126 million budget for 2010-2012.  Council members and staff have worked through four rigorous budget sessions since early May to close a $20 million shortfall. 

Here are just some of the highlights: 

• Council members want to maintain free rides for the downtown trolley (or County Connection's Route 4) at least for the next year. The council's plan is to fund the free rides with $200,000 from the Downtown Parking and Enhancement Fund. But council members have also asked city staff to conduct a survey within the next six months to find out who is riding the trolley and what the impact would be on ridership if the city decided to charge a fee. 
• Crossing guards: They work at six intersections near schools throughout Walnut Creek, with $74,000 a year from a $314,000 Council Contingency fund. At the same time, council members want the city to evaluate the needs for crossing guards and to explore options for regional corporation.
• Cultural services in Walnut Creek will likely continue: The Walnut Creek Concert Band will be spared but with a reduced grant of $34,000.  The Lindsay Wildlife Museum is likely to get a $75,000 grant for two years.

The City Council is meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday and will consider adopting the budget after hearing from the public.