Calabasas budget forecast bright





Unlike the state of California and its sea of red ink, the city of Calabasas is forecasting smooth sailing ahead.

Calabasas CFO Gary Lysik recently unveiled a $55million budget for the fiscal years 2008-2010.

The two-year budget, which was passed unanimously by the Calabasas City Council at its first meeting in the new city hall, carries a hefty $55-million in reserves.

Major contributors to the city’s income are the sales tax, utility tax and fees for city services. Sales tax recvenue accounts for more than 30 percent of the city’s income.

“The budget’s main (focus) is to provide for public safety, increase resources for road resurfaces and other projects, continue to improve our customer service, support education and other community programs and also to allow for the acquisition of open space,” Lysik said.

Discretionary spending on such items as community service programs totaled $1.2 million. The budget also calls for 24 capitalimprovement projects.

City employees will receive a cost of living allowance this year of 3 percent, and more than 4 percent next year, Lysik said.

“I’m very proud of the work we are doing,” Councilmember Dennis Washburn said.

The first meeting at the new $41million civic center was adjourned in memory of two active Calabasas residents, Stuart Sobol and Ben Kendall, who recently died.

Sobol was a longtime traffic and transportation commissioner.

“His commitment and creativity is what made him special in that regard,” said Washburn, who appointed Sobol to the commission. “It was pervasive in his business life, his family life and his community life. We will sorely miss him.”

Kendall was on the board of the Calabasas Park Homeowners Association, and Groveman said he was “a major force” and “the pillar” of the Pacific Boys Lodge in Woodland Hills.

“Nobody I could say could ever exceed his charitable contributions,” Groveman said. “It’s going to take this community the effort to find 12 people that are going to be able to do the work that this one person did.”

Washburn noted that Kendall was involved in the incorporation of the city in 1991.

“His legacy is all around us,” Washburn said.


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