West Hollywood : $38.6-Million Budget OKd

The City Council on Monday approved a $38.6-million budget for 1991-92. The budget includes an increase in funding for social services.

The council in recent weeks had considered a proposal to cut $175,000 in funding for the city’s numerous social-service providers. It chose instead to make cuts elsewhere, slicing its own travel budget by $20,000 and consolidating the city’s public services division with other city departments.

The council also approved a number of contracts on Monday, including an $86,525 agreement with Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles to provide home security services for about 600 low-income elderly and disabled residents this year. The money will help pay for deadbolt locks and other items.

In addition, the council directed city staff to establish a bond-financing program that will provide about $1 million for property owners to seismically upgrade brick buildings built before 1933. About 70 properties will be eligible for the program.

Property owners will pay for the bonds through an annual assessment on their property tax.

City officials hope that the money will provide an incentive for property owners, who are required by city ordinance to upgrade within the next four to seven years all buildings built before 1933. The city will hold a meeting to discuss the program at 7 p.m. July 23 at the West Hollywood Park auditorium.