SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. What a suprise, and how quickly they forget the layoffs, cutback of hours, and lost benefits.

"finance director Patty Kong, who would perhaps have more time to generate revenue for the city, noted council member Mike Kasperzak."

Oh, and what other type of stealing money from the Mt. View people do they have in mind next?

Here is a novel idea, why not learn to live within your budget and get out of the black as well.

How about lowering the property tax? And turning the outdated pension system to a 401k

A quarter of a million dollars for an IT guy? Is that before benefits and pension? And can they retire in 20 years and get a 6 figure pension? Something is wrong with this city.

Oh, but we will build a hotel and then we can pay for it all!

I guess I can expect you all to run for City Council next? It is so easy to complain while sitting on the sidelines doing nothing.

You guys are much too harsh. It clearly states in the article that the budget is not running a deficit. So their budget is in the black.

And, @Recall Margaret - that name is just ridiculous. Why not try to use your real name if you want to be so harsh. You never would.

And, the increases to the property taxes were VOTED on. You may have voted no, but you were overruled.

Mountain View is a great place to live, to raise & educate children, to work, and to play. Stop complaining and start enjoying some of it. We have many people to thank - the City Council has been doing a good job. They cannot please everyone all the time, but Mtn View would not be the great place it is without them.

So... if there now is a surplus in the budget, does that mean the MVPD will return to police work, and ditch their police-for-profit fund raising schemes?

"who would perhaps have more time to generate revenue for the city",
say it like it is Kap--more time to figure out ways to raise taxes!

Love it only government can figure out ways to spend more money and think of ways to get more taxes.

By the way--the unfunded pension liability is looming--the city budget, whatever make believe it consists of--is not in the black.

Spend spend spend. Some insider's buddy must be an IT guy who needs a job.

Seriously? After a while the "whining" just gets old.

Thanks MVPD: "you have my back." Keep it up!

I can also think of ways for the city to spend more money. For example, I'd really like it if the library had more money to buy books and stay open longer hours.

Increases to other City departments, such as streets, fire, and police would be a good idea, too.

I applaud the City Manager and the Council for increasing city spending and for doing it carefully and judiciously.

Unlike some of the complainers, I believe the city has done a good job over the years of managing its finances.

Lower the transfer tax for RE sales. Sales of RE to low thanks in part to taxes. Stimulate our RE and more taxes over all.

RE sales are fine, need to build more housing and business space. Being more sales tax generators, more business means more business license fees. Plus jobs and more services for residents.

More income means more city services, not just fire, police, streets. But better, if budget is better time to spend on capital projects and up grades.

IT person, just look where we are.

Spend wisely, plan for the future.

Why not use some of the new found wealth on fixing Google Wifi or better yet bring Google Fiber to MV

Why not bank the 3 million dollars, make plans to purchase by need. We also have a few development projects in pipeline, see if the revenue stream becomes stable enough for spending.

Sunnyvale had the state take some funds away.

What say we put red-light cameras on Shoreline Blvd & catch us some runners? It would make the streets safer if they actually had to pay up & would give the police more $$$.

A few places are wanting to get out of those red light cameras, people complained about cities making money off them. If people weren't driving like mad, we wouldn't need to have them.

Sad thing is we went our parks cleaned, pools open, library hours, the city to pick up the phone and deal with out problems. Mountain View is a pretty well kept up city, with a thriving economy, lots of jobs, good streets, well kept up sidewalks, very excellent parks.

Yes traffic is bad, parks are crowded and street might look a little beat up. Lived in the 3rd World, even lived in poorer cities in California.