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Gardena officials stress fiscal health, cite Measure G and card-room risks from SB 549
Summary
City leaders said Gardena's property valuation has risen since 2017, highlighted awards for financial reporting and credited Measure G with keeping sales tax revenue local, while flagging state legislation and changing card-room income as budget risks.
Gardena leaders used the State of the City address to describe the city’s fiscal position, point to recognition for financial reporting and warn of revenue risks tied to state law and the local gaming industry.
“Since mayor Cerna took office in 02/2017, the total property valuation for all properties in our city increased by over 52% to just over $9,000,000,000 in assessed value today,” the mayor said during the address. Cerna also explained revenue sources and cited Measure G, a local sales-tax measure passed in 2020.
On Measure G, Cerna said the 2020 ballot measure keeps sales tax revenue in Gardena and helps fund city projects. “We passed it. Money is staying here, and that's why you're seeing so many different projects throughout the city that are improving it,” she said.
Officials described current budget figures: the mayor said the city’s general fund operating budget is $86,000,000 and that the city maintains an additional $300,000,000 in other funds, including special revenues, grants and transit accounts.
Risks cited: Cerna and city staff identified two financial concerns that could affect revenues. First, the city relies in part on card-room revenue historically; the mayor said California Senate Bill 549 (SB 549) allows Indian tribes to sue California card rooms and could reduce card-room income and related city revenue. Second, contracts such as the city’s fire service contract with LA County were noted as increasing costs — Cerna said the city was “looking at different options and ideas” to address higher fire costs.
The city touted financial management awards and tools: officials said Gardena earned a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, a certificate of achievement in financial reporting for consecutive years, and maintains an online financial-transparency dashboard updated every two weeks.
What the address did not include: detailed multi-year revenue projections or a line-item budget for the $72,000,000 CIP; those would be found in public budget documents and staff reports rather than the speech itself.
The mayor closed the fiscal section by praising the city’s finance team and urging continued transparency as projects and risks play out.
