The Corcoran Journal

A public hearing last week paved the way for a June election to approve an increase to the local sales tax. The city council held the hearing as part of its regular meeting. The hearing was short and sweet, with no comments from the audience and no written testimony. City Manager Dr. Kindon Meik did provide a report outlining why the city considers it important to seek the additional sales tax revenue.

The city is poised to spend almost $450,000 in grant money on transit department projects. The city council approved a resolution last week allowing the transit department to move ahead with the proposal.

The city council once again peered into the future during last week’s regular meeting, receiving a glimpse of a desperate budget scenario. Absent some form of action, the city’s general fund will continue to decline over the next five years, resulting in $1 million in red ink by fiscal year 2021-2022.

The City of Corcoran and the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) have finalized a land deal that will deliver the city $630,000. In exchange, the authority gains parcels and rights of way it needs to complete its Fresno to Bakersfield portion of track.