BUENA PARK : City Balances Budget by Freeze, User Fees
Despite a $1.5-million shortfall, the City Council has balanced the city’s $32-million budget without dipping into residents’ pockets.
While keeping a lid on taxes, the council last week approved a hiring freeze and increases in user fees.
More than 20 city jobs will remain vacant next year at an estimated savings of $586,000. The staff vacancies are spread across six departments, including two police officer jobs and one fire captain post. Several part-time positions are also included.
User fees will be increased for a variety of services, from building permits to photo copies of city documents. The increased fees are expected to generate $200,000 next year for the city’s general fund.
For the second consecutive year, the city has taken money out of its reserve account to help balance the budget. About $2.9 million remains in the fund.
All departments were kept at or below last year’s funding levels, with few new projects getting approval. Director of Finance Greg Beaubien said one area that hurt the city most was the decrease in sales tax revenue. Projections were about $1.5 million below what the city actually received, he said.
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