Budget Seeks Higher Utility, Cable Charges

Glendale residents will pay higher utility charges and new taxes for cable television service and interstate phone calls, and law enforcement will be increased under a proposed 1990-91 city budget unveiled this week.

The $226-million spending plan, covering the fiscal year that begins July 1, will be reviewed by the City Council during a public study session on June 8.

The proposal calls for a 9.3% increase in spending over the city’s 1989-90 budget, including the creation of 41 new full-time city positions, beyond the 1,579 employees authorized by the present budget.

“It’s reflective of the demands for increased service levels, specifically in the area of police,” said Brian A. Butler, the city’s finance director.

Of the new employees, 25 will be in the Glendale Police Department. About half of the new positions will be sworn officers, while the other new civilian employees will free more officers for field duty, Butler said. “One of the objectives is to get more of our uniformed officers on the streets,” he said.

The employees will include five new parking enforcement officers to write tickets during an additional evening shift.

The proposed increases in fees and taxes include a 7% utility users tax that would be added to cable television bills and out-of-state telephone charges. An 11% rate increase is proposed for refuse collection, raising the average monthly residential bill from $8.60 to $9.60.

The budget also calls for a 2.5% increase in fees for electric service and an 8% increase in water rates. If approved by the council, the average Glendale homeowner will pay $36.57 per month for electricity and $23.66 for water.

City staff members said sewer revenues must be doubled because major improvements are required at the Hyperion sewage treatment plant, partly owned by Glendale.

The average homeowner pays $8.60 per month for sewer service. The staff has proposed a 70% increase for residential users, bringing the average bill to $14.62.