Public Safety, Reserve Top Budget Concerns

More money for law enforcement and an infusion of cash to the city’s dwindling reserve will be the focus of a City Council budget session Monday.

The single largest budget increase in the $104-million spending plan would be for law enforcement. Expenditures for fire, police and marine protection would rise by $2.2 million to $37.8 million for fiscal 1997-98.

Total spending, however, would be down by about $25 million, City Manager Kevin J. Murphy said, mainly because several capital improvement projects have been completed.

The budget also would add $600,000 to the city’s reserve, bringing it to $6.2 million. Restoring the reserve has been a major goal of council members, who say it has been dangerously low in recent years.

At one point, the reserve, which was $18 million a few years ago, dwindled to $3 million after the city settled several lawsuits, including a $1.2-million sexual harassment case against the Police Department.

The council will hold a study session on the budget at 3 p.m. Monday. It will hear public comments on the budget at 7 p.m. Both sessions will be at City Hall, 3300 W. Newport Blvd. Information: (714) 644-3309.