TWENTYNINE PALMS—The city council in this desert community of 25,048 belatedly approved a $20.65 million 2011-12 fiscal year budget on July12.

The approval of the budget came 12 days into the fiscal year and was delayed because city manager Richard Warne, who was hired in May, had taken time to familiarize himself with all aspects of the city’s operation and the costs associated therewith before formalizing the spending plan that was ultimately submitted to the city council for review.

That plan contained within a 413-page document was unanimously approved, with some changes, by the council.

Warne proposed a general fund budget of $11 million and something over $1.5 million for the redevelopment agency.  Warne set aside over $7.85 million for capital improvement projects. The city will also pay out $1.24 million toward bond and debt service.

Personnel costs in the city, contained within the general fund, will run to $3.4 million.

Warne said the budget is balanced and that the city will realize $20.85 million in revenue, which exceeds by $200,000 the amount it will spend.  “The city is fiscally sound and financially solvent,” Warne said.

A version of the budget can be viewed at http://www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us/.