Budgeting and planning ahead has been particularly challenging for towns across the nation still reeling from the impact of the pandemic. However, as the South Pasadenan (CA)reports, cell towers and voters have come together to give their town an unexpected boost.
In years past, the city’s revenue budget included a $250,000 payment for the use of its cell towers. In 2021, a new long-term cell tower master lease with Tower Ventures will give South Pasadena a one time payment of $4.34 million. There is no specified use for those funds, giving the town the freedom to decide where to allot its windfall. For the moment, the funds will sit in reserve.
The second source of revenue will come from local voters’ approval of extending the Utility Users Tax. With more people at home using cable and electric resources, usage saw the first upward spike in years, placing more money in the town’s coffers.
“The importance of South Pasadena voters’ continued support of local tax measures simply cannot be overstated,” wrote Interim City Manager, Sean Joyce.
“Single-handedly, those two things really did save the city from serious financial problems,” agreed Elaine Aguilar, Interim Assistant City Manager.
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