Palo Alto is preparing to restore some funding planned for cuts to the city’s crossing guard program despite budget pressures. The City Council Finance Committee approved a recommendation to ask the Palo Alto Unified School District to help pay for the service. The committee also recommended creative incentives to improve hiring in the Palo Alto Police Department and adding a council administrative assistant. The crossing guard proposal to cut 10% drew strong community opposition due to safety concerns for children traveling to school. Under the revised budget, the city will fund 50% of the crossing guards slated for reduction, with the school district covering the remainder. If the district does not pay, the council will revisit the issue during the midyear budget review in February.
"Despite ongoing budget challenges, Palo Alto is preparing to restore some of the funding it was planning to cut from the city's crossing guard program and ask the school district to help pay for the popular service, according to a recommendation the City Council Finance Committee approved May 19."
"Under the revised budget, the city will continue to fund 50% of the crossing guards that were slated to be cut, contingent upon the Palo Alto Unified School District footing the rest of the bill. If that doesn't happen, the council will need to revisit the item during the midyear budget review in February next year."
"Councilmembers George Lu, Pat Burt and Ed Lauing - who sit on the committee - focused extensively on rebalancing the budget given additional feedback from the council and residents, who urged the city to find ways to finance additional projects and positions such as crossing guards and transportation staff."
"As part of its final hearing before the revised budget goes to the full council, the finance committee also recommended finding creative ways to incentivize hiring in the Palo Alto Police Department and adding a council administrative assistant."
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