Council Expected to Approve City Budget

The City Council is expected to adopt next year’s $132.5-million spending plan Monday night, hoping to retain a wide array of city services even though the budget is projected to have a $740,000 shortfall.

City officials have held several study sessions and a public hearing in recent weeks to hash out the details of the 2-inch-thick budget plan.

Most council members said Friday that they expect the 1997-98 budget to be approved with little discussion.

But Councilman Gary Tuttle said he has some concerns. “But I don’t expect anyone to listen to me. The bottom line is that the budget is about $740,000 over right now. This is a budget that is protecting the council. It is politically expedient, and a cop-out,” he said.

Councilman Jim Friedman blamed the the shortfall on past council decisions but said it is a problem that the current council members cannot ignore. “We are the ones who have to dig in and repair it,” he said.

City Manager Donna Landeros maintains that with some fine-tuning, city staff should be able to balance the budget by the end of the year.

Tuttle said he would prefer such decisions be made by the council.

Landeros also emphasized to the council during budget discussions that the city must wean itself from reliance on interest earnings from city reserves to balance the annual budget. Such fiscal prudence, she said, is important for the city’s long-term financial health.

The City Council will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 501 Poli St.