Riverside passes budget

Riverside has approved a $2.9 billion budget that will cover the next two fiscal years.

The biennial capital improvements program assigns about $1.45 billion to each fiscal year in multiple areas, including public safety, homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure, road maintenance, and support services, according to a statement on the city’s website.

“This budget reflects a balanced approach to providing services our residents have made clear they want, while also addressing challenges we face as a city,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in the statement.

“We welcome the accountability that comes with these increases, and appreciate our residents’ expectations for responsible fiscal stewardship.”

Some specific items include replacing police radios at a cost of $5.3 million, replacing some fire department vehicles and equipment ($9 million) and increasing the library’s budget from $1.2 million to $2.8 million.

The approval ends a process that started in October, when the city began seeking input by mailing a postcard to city residents, posting notices on all the city’s social media, and inviting residents to attend budget workshops, according to the statement.