
The city’s Finance Advisory Committee met on Monday, Feb. 27. Some of its business was routine, some not. First, some good news: Revenue for the second quarter was up $1,512,843 over the same period last year, a gain of about 15%, and expenditures for the quarter were down $356,958. That’s encouraging, and we hope these figures represent continuing positive trends, not just circumstantial or temporary budgetary adjustments. That’s about it for the good news. On the grimmer side, consider the pending fate of the City’s Community Promotion Grant Program, which spent $94,500 last year to support artists, art organizations, art exhibits, access to local art, library programs, nutritional programs, low income legal assistance, and other worthy activities. Between $91,000 and $92,000 of this funding came from our Redevelopment Agency. And now that money is gone. Should the General Fund be tapped to keep things going? Should the list be pared? Should a cap be put on the Grant Program and have entities compete for a slice of what’s still there? The Committee, wisely I think, deferred judgment on what to do. We need to think carefully about our options, hear more from the community, and consider other possible sources for