By Scott Sherman

The Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget recently proposed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer is a balanced budget that will keep San Diego going on the right track.

The budget would increase funding for roads 189 percent since 2014. That’s over 200 miles of roads that would be completed if this budget is approved by the City Council.

In addition, the budget would fund an additional $6.4 million in new and replaced sidewalks and streetlights.

It would also commit $5.8 million in increased spending for storm channel and drain cleanings. This is great news since District 7 is particularly susceptible to flooding during heavy rainstorms.

The FY17 budget would also increase hours at a number of recreation centers and fund $2.5 million in park improvements.

Traffic improvements in the Mission Valley area is also included. $1.4 million would be invested in traffic signal optimization to ease congestion in the area as well as major improvements on the Friars Road and state Route 163 intersection.

Other District 7 specific improvements would include:

• Replacing synthetic turf at Pershing Middle School Joint Use Field in San Carlos
• Repaving the San Carlos Recreation Center and Allied Gardens Library parking lots.

Not only will this budget improve city services, it is also fiscally responsible. The proposed budget would allocate $20.8 million to fund the Pension Payment Stabilization Fund and $7.6 million to fully fund General Fund reserves at 14.75 percent. These measures would ensure that the city would have the resources needed during an economic downturn.

—Scott Sherman represents District 7 on the San Diego City Council.