Santa Clara implements new budget format

  • 2020-07-22
The Santa Clara Finance Department has been working on a project that will make its budgets easier for people to understand.

The new format was debuted in May and used to create the budget for the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Quoted by the Silicon Valley Voice, Kenn Lee, the Santa Clara Finance Director, explained that it was important taxpayers were clearly informed of how their money was being spent.

The new budget format features more images to make it visually appealing. It also includes summaries of the projects’ accomplishments and funding sources, and it is easier to tell if the projects are funded or unfunded.

The previous format was based on the source of the funds and which department would be spending them. Multiple departments play roles in different projects and this led to some confusion. The new format prioritizes explaining to residents how the use of funds serves them. Official Letterheads are likely to be seen on the reports.

The City expects to spend half a billion dollars on capital projects over five years. A fifth of that money will be used in the fiscal year for 2020-21, and Silicon Valley Power is expected to receive the largest share of that spending. Sewer utilities and transportation come second and third respectively.

Power and sewerage services are primarily funded by service charges, so do not receive money from the general fund.

Get a Free Quote for Letterheads