Long Beach : $1.2-Billion Budget Passes

After adding $92,000 to a $300,000 grant for the Public Corporation for the Arts, the City Council approved with little discussion a $1.2-billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The 1986-87 budget, which includes $337 million for capital improvements, will put 41 more police officers in uniform, boost health and human services and return city-supervised recreational activities to 1978 levels.

Despite sharp cuts in federal grants and oil revenues, the fiscal plan increases spending in nearly all areas of public service. It includes a $21.4-million, or 11.8%, boost in the $202.2-million portion of the budget over which the City Council has direct control.

To provide the increases, however, the city will spend most of the $28.7-million budget surplus it has accumulated over the last several years, said City Manager John Dever, who presented the document to the council.

The council has little control over the bulk of the $1.212-billion overall city budget, since about $1 billion is tied up in self-supporting city agencies such as the gas and water departments, the airport, waste disposal services and the harbor. The overall budget is down 14% from this year’s $1.415 billion, mostly because state oil revenues that are funneled through a city-run trust are expected to plunge by $178 million next fiscal year.

Self-supporting agencies are doing well, although increases of about 5% are being added to garbage collection and marina slip fees, Dever said.