Uncertain Budget Talks Scheduled to Restart Tuesday

With the apparent passage of a state budget last Wednesday, the Pinole City Council cut short a meeting on its latest round of discussion on its own spending plan. Then Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the budget bill on Thursday. So, the council will resume deliberations Tuesday night, uncertain of how the numbers eventually will line up.

Tuesday's agenda call for conducting an open hearing and continuing it to a subsequent meeting date to be determined. No action on the spending plan is recommended for Tuesday.

The council adjourned after 40 minutes Wednesday when City Manager Belinda Espinosa and Finance Director Richard Loomis said that the adoption of that ill-fated budget bill would shift the dynamics of how much money will be available.

The fiscal intrigue also is complicated by the apparent pending elimination or restriction of redevelopment programs, along with continuing negotiations with the city's labor unions. Also, the California Redevelopment Association is likely to file suit over the constitutionality of legislative action to reform the redevelopment, Pinole City Manager Belinda Espinosa told the council last week.

The council currently faces the challenge of adopting a budget without knowing the outcome of at the state level. July 1 is the beginning of the new fiscal year, by which a budget must be adopted.

Tuesday's meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 2131 Pear St. It will be televised live on Pinole TV Channel 26 and streamed live on the city's website.