Home to wealthy Silicon Valley executives, the quiet “bedroom community” of Portola Valley is grappling with a financial crisis so deep that some are seeking donations for town improvements.
From a possible new sheriff’s desk at the community hall to bathroom renovations and speed bumps, the Town Council gathered late into the night last week to meticulously scrutinize proposed capital improvements for the upcoming fiscal year.
The small town famed for its wealth is aiming to pass a budget by June 30 — a plan that will shape its financial future.
“My perspective, we’re in an existential crisis. We’ve got to get this right,” Mayor Judith Hasko declared at the May 28 meeting.
Portola Valley, which has a population of less than 4,500 people, is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Santa C