City struggles with cuts

Paul Clinton

Grappling with the fallout of Gov. Gray Davis’ decision to cut at

least $4.2 billion from city budgets across the state, Surf City

leaders are scrambling to put together a list of possible programs

that could fall under the budget ax.

Some options, as the city looks to loosen up $10 million from

existing programs, include the loss of HBTV-3, fewer library hours

and the rollback of a redevelopment plan for Southeast Huntington

Beach, officials said.

“It could be whole departments,” Councilwoman Debbie Cook said.

“Everything is in jeopardy. ... We’re going to have to come up with

some radical changes.”

On Jan. 10, the city got the bad news that it would have $15

million less in revenue over the next 18 months. Of that money, $9

million comes from vehicle registration revenue. As much as $6

million could be cut from the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

City Administrator Ray Silver has asked his department heads to

come up with lists of programs that could be eliminated.

Surf City’s $363 million annual budget, which goes into effect

Oct. 1, is comprised of two types of revenue: restricted and

unrestricted. The city receives $229 million in funds that are

already earmarked for federal- and state-mandated programs.

The remaining $134 million makes up the general fund budget, which

funds the operation of the city’s departments and pays for city

services. It is this pool of money, the city must wrangle through to

determine what should be cut, Silver said.

Right now, officials in City Hall are working to determine how

much of the general fund could be considered a “core service,” such

as police patrols and street lighting.

“Anything that is a core municipal service [would not be cut].

Anything that is federally mandated [would not be cut],” Silver said.

“Everything else is open for discussion.”

On Tuesday, newly elected council members Gil Coerper and Cathy

Green joined Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) as he

introduced a bill that could return some vehicle registration revenue

back to city coffers.

The bill would reinstitute the so-called “VLF fee” on drivers,

forcing the average driver to pay an average of $103 more to register

their cars and trucks.

“No one wants fees to go back up,” Wesson said. “But it’s a small

price to pay for keeping our fire stations open and our police

officers on the job.”

Coerper said police and fire budgets should be considered

untouchable while council members decide what to cut. City Council

budget workshops begin in August.

“I don’t have all the information about what we should do, but I

would say, don’t cut public safety,” Coerper said. “We’re still going

to have to cut.”

Concerns have arisen in City Hall about three Redevelopment Agency

projects in the pipeline. Those include Pacific City, the Strand and

the revamping of the Huntington Center shopping center. Green brushed

aside fears that those projects are in jeopardy.

“Anything that’s in the system already, I think will probably be

protected,” Green said. “Those that haven’t [been approved] may not

be as safe.”

* PAUL CLINTON is a reporter with Times Community News. He

covers City Hall. He may be reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at

[email protected].