On Monday night the Malibu City Council passed a $37.8 million budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2011 and ends on the same date a year later. One of the highlights is a new Media Information Officer position, budgeted for $94,000, which includes salary and benefits as well as funding to increase the city’s media outreach. Also, revenues from the General Fund (the city’s main operating budget) are projected to rise approximately $100,000 from the current fiscal year, which, “while slight,” according to the staff report, “represents the City’s strong and stable financial status.” The City’s contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also rises, from $6.2 million to $6.3 million due to a rise in operating expenses.