South Pasadena : Council Adopts Budget

The City Council on Monday adopted a two-year budget that generally maintains the city’s current services and bolsters the Police and Fire departments. It also provides for the refurbishing of the historic War Memorial building.

Expenditures are estimated at $15.1 million for fiscal 1990-91 and $13.4 million for 1991-92. In comparison, expenditures for 1989-90 were $12.4 million. The bulk of the spending goes toward police and fire protection, which accounts for 57.2% and 60.8% of the 1990-91 and 1991-92 budgets, respectively.

Finance Director Barbara James said balancing the budget required the use of about $700,000 from general fund reserves for 1990-91, but she added that a $60,000 surplus is forecast for the next year.

Included in the budget is the addition of three firefighter-paramedics in 1990-91 and one more in 1991-92. On the police beat, one more detective (financed through South Pasadena’s $83,000 return for aiding in a regional drug raid) and a public safety officer will join the force in 1990-91. A police officer will be added a year later.

James said the budget could still undergo some revisions, depending on the results of a management audit under way.