The Santa Maria Valley Chamber invites the community to attend the State of the City address, 7-9 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria, 3455 Skyway Drive.

The annual event offers residents the opportunity to hear directly from local government officials about the current state and future plans for the city, the chamber said.
 
Mayor Alice Patino will join Acting City Manager Chuen Wu to provide updates regarding Santa Maria’s challenges and opportunities.

They will discuss steps to address the significant budget deficit, which may include exploring new revenue sources, implementing service reductions and using one-time reserves to ensure fiscal responsibility, the chamber said.

The event will open with breakfast and networking, 7-7:30 a.m., followed by the program, 7:30-9 a.m.

The cost to attend is $40 for chamber members and $50 for future chamber members. The registration fee includes a seat at a table with a plated breakfast during the networking portion.

Individual seats will be available along the perimeter of the venue at no charge. These seats will not include the plated breakfast.

“We are trying to avoid reductions to public services, by tightening our belts and exploring about a dozen ideas for additional revenues,” Wu said. “At the same time, there is a lot of exciting development activity taking place that indicates positive growth.”

“This is an important opportunity for Santa Maria residents to stay informed about the future of the city,” the chamber said. “We encourage everyone to participate and contribute to the conversation.”

To learn more or to register for the event, visit the State of the City webpage.