MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - More than $3 million was received during this period and the city of Marysville spent just more than $1 million, according to Finance Director Jennifer Styczynski’s fiscal year budget overview at the March 5 Marysville City Council meeting.

The finance director said that the city is functioning below budget to date with the police portion at about 41% and fire at about 45%. As to general expenditures, such as insurances, the city pays those up front in July as a one-time expense; the same occurs with parks and facilities expenditures.

The largest one-time only expense is general capital at $6.1 million. As to those, such as street projects at 14th Street and A Street, the Gavin Park project, and under the General Plan, more than $7 million of one-time expenditures are coming but the city overall is operating in the black, Styczynski said.

Styczynski pointed out that gas taxes were bringing in more than budgeted with expenditures currently about 36%.  More than $135,000 in gas taxes is expected. Wastewater revenue also brought in more since the system was introduced of billing under the owners’ names. She said the enterprise funds were doing well.

Styczynski said the budget was managed on a cash basis, with revenues recognized as set, and some having lifetime status. The operating budget was at $14.15 million, with $13.54 million in expenditures. There will be $190,000 less in sales tax this year with the city running behind a little by the end of the year, Styczynski said. Measure C will only provide about $110,000.  It was uncertain how much revenue from sales tax collected within the city will be, Styczynski explained, as the way revenue is totaled within the fiscal year is in three segments, “Small, Small and Large Catch-up.”

“We are expecting a raise in revenue but it is slower coming in. It is state-wide,” Styczynski said.

She explained most of the money from the COVID-19 stimulus has been spent, so recipients cut back but also are just starting to spend again. The city went conservative on the cannabis tax budget, Styczynski said, but that revenue is increasing. The report was unanimously approved.

Mayor Chris Branscum said that the budget overview was very well presented.

Council unanimously approved the closeout of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant of $416,000, which went for a dine-in program during COVID-19, with 104 individuals fed against the 49 originally expected.  It supported elders and those with disabilities with funds benefitting six local restaurants. Door Dash was used when individuals could not go out, so it served more individuals than originally expected. The program ended in October 2023 with the amount spent at about $165,000. The balance remaining will be returned to the state for repurposing.

Marysville City Council unanimously approved an award bid for an historical mansion for a Fire Station Accessory Building Replacement Project. It is to be a full tear-down and replacement to house large equipment. The $400,000 allocated will come from the fire budget.

Public Works director Vincenzo Corazza received approval for adoption of an engineering standards book. Superseding previous editions, it details multiple engineering standards for projects. Corazzo said that “the city has comparatively stringent standards now.” This book will offer new standards from different agencies.

Several graphics presentations were made, including from the Marysville Cemetery Commission detailing clean up of the historical cemetery, and development of proper road signage. Photos were displayed of volunteers who are now offering cemetery tours on Monday and Thursday mornings. Total maintenance cost is budgeted at about $47,000, with an additional $10,000 requested for repair of 24 headstones this year.

The Yuba-Sutter Film Commission showed what it does to bring in film production and support a local film making community by attending at least four film events per year and advertising in industry publications. It was successful in contracting 14 shoot days for four productions, with an estimated economic return of $158,700. It has three feature films slated for 2024. The mayor questioned where production units lodge when they are in the area.

Gordon Tom, an author of several books, including on Marysville’s Chinese immigrant population, showed photographs of early Chinatown and the Bok Kai water dragon, reflecting how Chinatown developed from dirt roads and wooden pavements from 1900 to the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Tom said that thousands still visit Bok Kai Temple, the only one left in the world, as all were removed from China by the Communists. Tom also reported that Marysville is the only temple that actually has the circular-shaped Bok Kai dragon.