Tax revenues are down and the City of Watsonville, despite big cuts in its budget, is still facing a $384,000 deficit this year and a $1.9 million deficit next year, City Manager Carlos Palacios announced during a special City Council meeting Thursday night.

The purpose of the meeting, held in the Civic Plaza’s Community Room, was to update the city’s Strategic Plan. Palacios wanted the council’s approval to add three initiatives to the plan: to assist a regional effort to improve broadband service, to schedule an economic strategy session in March and to pursue a joint meeting between the city and Pajaro Valley Unified School District to discuss common concerns.

The council approved the initiatives, with several cheering on the effort of the Central Coast Broadband Consortium, made up of local governments, health care institutions and schools, all wanting faster Internet access. Palacios said it was important for business development.

“High-tech businesses take it as a matter of course that you have high-quality broadband services,” he said. “We’re not up to speed with other areas and it’s impacted us.”

For the complete article see the 02-06-2010 issue.

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