$1.16-Billion City Budget Boosts Police, Recreation Services

San Diego City Manager Jack McGrory on Tuesday unveiled a $1.16-billion city budget, a spending plan for 1992 that includes overall service cuts but adds 25 more police officers, a DNA lab and increased services in some areas.

The proposed budget, which is 6.4% smaller than the current one, expands hours of recreation programs, provides for speedier sidewalk repair and tree-trimming.

“There are still a number of unmet needs,” said McGrory, who acknowledged that the plan fails to maintain current levels of service and does not keep pace with increased demands for those services, which would cost an additional $8 million.

Because the City Council opted not to approve a proposed 17.1% water rate increase Tuesday, McGrory said he would submit a slightly revised budget to make up for about $8 million the city’s Water Utilities Department needs.

The City Council will wrangle over McGrory’s budget blueprint from May to June, adopting a final version of it in July.

After hearing McGrory’s budget presentation--his first since he took office--a number of council members gave the proposed plan a favorable review.

“We are in the luxurious position of saying we have a balanced budget,” crowed Mayor Maureen O’Connor, who acknowledged that the 1992 budget comes on the heels of far more difficult budget-crunching years.

Council member Abbe Wolfsheimer said, “It’s very responsive to the city’s needs.”

Commenting that the budget is “refreshing,” Councilman Ron Roberts said, “It looks like the city is basically in very, very good shape.”

Under the proposed budget, the San Diego Police Department will gain 25 full-time officers and nine civilian personnel, increase the canine program from 24 to 47 teams and add $1 million for a 200-bed jail--a move that augments the $1.5 million now budgeted for the jail.

McGrory’s plan also calls for increasing recreation center hours so they stay open 73--rather than the current 60--hours a week; adding seven after-school recreation programs while increasing the staff at eight existing sites; and improving litter control and public restroom cleanup in beach areas on weekends, holidays and during the summer. These proposed items sharply contrast with last year, when council members deliberated over cutting park and recreation programs.

After the city’s failed attempts to woo the Republican National Convention and the Super Bowl, McGrory also set aside $750,000 to help the city compete against other cities in luring major events.

The budget is based on projections that property taxes will grow to $141 million, an 8.5% increase, due to reassessments and growth. McGrory also estimates that sales tax revenue will increase by 3%, to $119 million.

Devising the budget was easier this year because the city faces fewer legal claims against it. Using projections, McGrory said claims filed against the city would be reduced from $18.3 million to $8 million. The city also saved money in several other areas:

* Elimination of the three lifeguards at Torrey Pines Beach for a savings of $82,000.

* Reduced refuse collection because of recycling efforts for a savings of $784,000.

* Reduced expenses to fight the SDG&E; merger, reflecting an anticipated decision on the merger in 1992, for a savings of $1.1 million.

And, leaving his personal mark, McGrory also recommended eliminating other expenses, such as the those for the arts festival, a project affectionately embraced by the mayor.

“It’s McGrory’s first budget; it becomes a reflection of his perceived priorities,” one city official said. “It’s clearly a reflection of him.”