City Budget Approved

The City Council unanimously approved the 2011-2013 budget at its meeting Wednesday, but not everything went smoothly.

The final budget came in balanced, through a series of staff cuts, freezing positions and other measures, but it did not come without some fireworks.

"The economic crisis has resulted in reductions to the city's revenues in virtually every category," City Manager Phil Vince wrote in his budget message. This is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that the fund reserves for this year are $2.9 million, down from nearly $6 million last year.

Anyone who believes senior citizens don't have political clout need only look at the 2011-2012 budget process. Instead of cutting $50,000 by reducing the hours of a Senior Center staff member, Vince was forced instead to cut by half the hours of Planning Manager Terry Blount.

After a stormy budget workshop last month at which a large group of seniors protested reducing the hours of a Senior Center staff person, council members Mark Ross and Lara DeLaney assured the seniors they would find the money elsewhere in the budget.

Ross said at the meeting, "$50,000 is a margin of error. It won't be a problem" finding the money elsewhere.

But it was another managerial position, rather than a margin of error, that was cut from the city's already shrunken staff. And the move did not sit well with Vice Mayor Janet Kennedy, who balked at the move to reduce Blount's position from full to half time in 2011-2012, and eliminate it in 2012-2013.

"I don’t understand how we cut the planning manager when economic development is a priority," Kennedy said.

"We’re down to bodies, down to people," Vince replied. Commercial development applications are being handled by a contract employee who does not receive benefits. Blount is focused on the general plan update.

"Privatizing some of our services makes sense, given the situation we're in," Vince said."We've lost a number of positions. We're at the point where we've balanced the budget. The last time I checked, we're getting things done. My job is efficiency and balancing the budget. Personnel is the city manager's call."

"So who is going to oversee the Planning Department, you and (Assistant City Manager) Alan Shear," asked Kennedy.

"We're doing it now," Vince shot back, "and I haven't heard any complaints."

Councilwoman Lara DeLaney asked for a reduction in the amount of money the city manager can spend without council authorization. The budget document originally gave Vince authorization to spend up to 5 percent of $5 million in unanticipated revenue from things such as grants. DeLaney asked for, and received, a reduction in that amount to 1 percent.

"The council should determine budget authorizations," she said.

DeLaney also suggested eliminating health care benefits for elected officials.

"Other part-time employees don't get benefits," she said. "If concessions are going to be granted by staff, I think concessions should be granted by the council as well."

Councilman Mark Ross suggested cutting the council's budget of $300,000 by 10 percent to 15 percent, instead of eliminating health benefits.

Councilman Mike Menesini agreed with that approach, saying he wasn't sure if there was a real benefit in membership in groups such as the League of California Cities.

"I would absolutely take any cut that any employee takes in the city," said Mayor Rob Schroder.

However, the budget was approved unanimously without the council members taking action on any portion of their budget.