Although tougher economic times may be in its future, in the coming year Ontario plans to introduce a new literacy campaign, may build its first neighborhood skate park and a new fire station, buy a new police helicopter and more.

The City Council unanimously approved a $633.9 million budget for the new fiscal year on June 24.

“The City of Ontario has once again maintained its fiscal responsibility to the community and brought forward a balanced budget that meets the needs of our residents and businesses,” Mayor Paul Leon said in a news release. “We have committed time and again to be responsible to our constituents and provide to the people of Ontario a stable, safe and healthy community.”

The city expects to have $275.4 million in general fund expenditures but only $273.2 million in general fund revenues. The shortfall in the general fund will be covered by transfers from other city funds, according to officials.

Among the planned expenditures in the new fiscal year, which began July 1:

The Ontario City Library is introducing an Early Literacy Campaign in partnership with Ontario-area school districts.

Recreation & Community Services has launched a mentorship program through the Ontario Youth Activities League, linking up middle school students with community mentors.

An update of Parks Master Plan and the possible construction of Ontario’s first Neighborhood Skate Park.

Creating a Satellite Workforce Services Office in the City Library to provide job training and placement assistance for Ontario residents.

Participating in planning the construction of a Euclid Avenue campus for Chaffey College.

A new Community Benefits District to improve Downtown Euclid.

More than $109 million of investments for new affordable housing. Two new rental housing projects, Emporia Place and Vista Verde Apartments, are scheduled to be completed by fall 2020.

The construction of a Fire Station No. 9 to serve the Ontario Ranch area.

The replacement of a police helicopter.

Beginning of construction for the 60 Freeway and Archibald Avenue Improvement Project, currently scheduled for January 2020. The $18.5 million project will widen Archibald Avenue under the freeway.

$7.7 million for street pavement rehabilitation and traffic signage projects.

In his introductory letter to the City Council that accompanied the budget, Ontario City Manager Scott Ochoa warned that the coming year might be a little bumpy:

“Most current data and economists’ forecast expect growth to be below 2% on an annual basis in the second three months of the year,” the letter reads in part. “A weaker global economy due to a major U.S. trade dispute with China and factory growth rates falling to their lowest levels in over nine years all suggests the economy is headed toward a slowdown and/or correction.”

Meanwhile, the city’s pension payments through CalPERS are going up, from $30.7 million this past year to $33.2 million in 2019-20. Keeping up with growing demands will be increasingly difficult for the city, Ochoa warned.

“The City’s annual General Fund CalPERS pension expense will increase an average of almost 10% over the next three years, while the projected General Fund revenue growth is pegged at approximately 4%,” he wrote. “Without future major revenue growth, limits on expenditures, some means of financing the unfunded actuarial liability, or some combination of all three, the city will be facing a significant constraint on operating budgets in upcoming fiscal years.”

According to Stanford University’s Institute for Economic Policy Research, government agencies statewide may owe more than $1 trillion to CalPERS, depending on investment returns. According to Stanford’s PensionTracker.org website, each Ontario household is responsible for $20,144 of that debt. According to the site, the average California household is responsible for $78,334 in unfunded pension debt.