Ontario passes budget

Ontario has passed a $470 million budget for its 2014-’15 fiscal year, a $7.7 million increase compared with the city’s current budget.

Council members passed the budget by a 4-0 vote during special meeting Thursday, with Councilman Paul Avila abstaining because of concerns regarding several line items in the budget, according to a report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Revenues are up 6.2 percent compared with last year. That means Ontario can afford to spend more during the next fiscal year, particularly since most of the extra revenue is going toward public safety, according to City Manager Al Boling.

The council also unanimously passed a five-year capital improvement plan.

This is the first budget in five years that increases spending in all of Ontario’s baseline departments, according to the report.