Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) goes through a comprehensive process each year to develop its annual budget as part of the organization’s mission to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe and prosperous Downtown. On August 18, the DLBA Board of Directors approved the organization’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget that begins on October 1, 2021.
The budgeting process typically starts in the March-April timeframe with staff assessing the current year’s financial trends, projecting costs associated with the future year’s programming goals, and gathering feedback from a variety of resources: surveys, focus groups, Board and committee meetings, and internal deliberations. Presentations are made to each department’s programming committees where members can ask questions and make suggested changes and recommendations before the Board ultimately authorizes its approval.
DLBA staff takes into consideration ongoing projects and new initiatives that meet the criteria of the organization’s Strategic Plan Vision 2020, to be updated this fall. Staff provides well-researched estimates for these efforts by each department, balanced against secured revenue streams.
DLBA’s diverse sources of revenue include fees collected through two assessment districts: the Property-Based Improvement District (PBID) and the Downtown Parking Improvement Area (DPIA). It also receives partial revenue from parking meters as well as third-party clean team contract services, sponsorships, and grant funding.
“The $4.6 million balanced budget for 2021-22 will enable DLBA to continue providing Downtown stakeholders with the programs and services they have come to rely on and value,” said DLBA CFO, Jeremy Ancalade. “We take a conservative approach to budgeting, so next year’s fiscal plan is based on secured revenue sources. It does not take into account any potential grant funds DLBA may receive, including those from the American Recovery Act. We continue to monitor potential support for our Downtown recovery initiatives and activities and will address any future spending plans once the availability of funds and guidelines become clearer.”
DLBA’s transparent work plan and initiatives are described in its Annual Budget Narrative. The document details in a narrative form the revenues and expenses for the new fiscal year and provides information about the role of each department and its staff, ongoing and planned projects, and duties to stakeholders.
As part of the budget adoption process, the DLBA Board-approved budget is sent to Long Beach City Council for consideration and ratification. The Council is expected to vote on the FY 21-22 plan in October or early November.
DLBA’s expenses are categorized by the following departments/services: General Administration; Advocacy (policy), Research & Development; Economic Development (business recruitment, retention and education); Marketing & Communications (advertising and promotions, stakeholder outreach and public relations, informational tools and communications), Placemaking (beautification projects and public space activation); and Operations (Clean and Safe program efforts); and Special Events (DLBA produced events).