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Baldwin Park panel approves roughly $646,000 from Measure BP to fund community events amid budget strain
Summary
The Stockholders Oversight Committee voted to use about $646,000 from Measure BP to pay for 13–14 special events and senior activities omitted from the draft city budget, after staff warned adding the events to the general fund would create a deficit and follow a multimillion‑dollar settlement that strained reserves.
The Baldwin Park Stockholders Oversight Committee voted to allocate about $646,000 from Measure BP sales‑tax funds to cover a year of special events and senior activities that were excluded from the draft city budget.
Staff told the committee on May 12 that the list covers roughly 13–14 events—including concerts, a Fourth of July celebration, a Black History event, a downtown street market and senior programs—and carries a gross cost near $700,000. Officials said donations and a business improvement fund would cover roughly $124,000, leaving about $646,000 in Measure BP funding requested for the 12‑month fiscal period through June 30, 2027.
Why it matters: staff and council members said the item was not included in the general fund budget because adding all events would push the city into a deficit. Finance Director Rose told the committee the general fund draft carried an estimated $114,000 shortfall and that recent litigation and related transfers had reduced reserves, prompting the request to use Measure BP to avoid cutting community programs.
The decision followed a wider debate about process and priorities. Some committee members urged presenting the events list to the full City Council first so councilors could decide which items to fund. Others and staff said council members were aware the events were not budgeted and asked the subcommittee to consider Measure BP support precisely because traditional revenue sources were insufficient.
Public comment at the meeting highlighted differing views about priorities. Resident Mr. Rails told the panel they were “not spending enough money for the community” and urged more investment in bus stops and park equipment. Business owner Greg Tuttle said the added tax had hurt local businesses and criticized what he described as a pattern of spending on equipment rather than community programs, saying, “The tax that you guys added on here has severely hurt all the businesses and residents in this city.”
Committee members defended the funding vote as preserving community programs while protecting the city’s reserve and credit standing. One member summarized the tradeoff this way: staff could budget the events from the general fund but that would reduce reserves and risk the city’s credit rating; using Measure BP would maintain the programs without immediately tapping reserves.
The committee motion to fund the events carried on a recorded vote: Member Hernandez, Member Martha Caramo and Vice Chair Jackson voted yes, and the motion passed. Staff said the city council would still make final budget decisions and that some events may be combined or scaled to lower costs in future years.
The committee also asked staff to post the Measure BP spreadsheet and a visual pie chart on the city website to show how funds are allocated. Staff agreed to add the spreadsheet and suggested adding the committee’s logo and event acknowledgements in outreach materials.
The committee’s action preserves the upcoming season of city events while leaving open council oversight and potential future adjustments to the list.
