SAN CLEMENTE : City May Create Budget Committee

The City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday to discuss the formation of a citizens committee that would recommend spending alternatives to balance next year’s city budget.

“It’s a prudent planning measure, if the city’s and the state’s economy is not turning around as projected,” City Manager Michael W. Parness said. “When we begin our budgeting process in early 1992, it is very possible that we may have to make difficult decisions as far as priorities and programs, and these are issues that we’d rather not deal with in a crisis mode.”

When balancing last year’s $20-million general fund budget, the council voted to raise the city’s hotel occupancy tax from 8% to 10%, raised park fees and assessed a franchise fee on solid waste. The council also voted to eliminate 10 unfilled city staff positions.

“This gives us the opportunity to have a group of knowledgeable citizens who represent a cross section of the community to meet with city staff and prepare a report for the council with their insight,” Parness said.

The committee would have about two months to prepare the report. Members would begin work in January and conclude their duties shortly before the city’s formal budget process begins.

The council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the city’s waste water treatment plant at 390 Avenida Pico.