ANAHEIM : City Cuts 5 More Jobs, Allocations

Months of agonizing budget discussions, which saw the implementation of a new utility tax, ended Tuesday when the City Council voted to eliminate five additional jobs and cut another $774,597 in operations.

The budget balancing act, approved unanimously, effectively closes the gap on a $966,000 budget deficit for the 1991-92 year that once stood at nearly $20 million.

The Maintenance Department was the most severely hit in the latest round of cuts, losing two positions--a street maintenance worker and laborer--and $234,975 in operating funds.

According to documents prepared by the city management staff, the maintenance reductions mean that up to 844,000 square feet of deteriorated pavement will go unrepaired.

The cuts also call for one position to be pared from the city’s treasurer’s office, Library Department and Planning Department.

With the council’s vote Tuesday in the third round of budget cuts, a total of 182 full-time or full-time equivalent positions have been eliminated and a little more than $19 million cut from the budget. Last month, the council passed the controversial 2% utility tax to reduce the deficit.