Santa Monica : Budget Priorities Voiced

A public hearing on Santa Monica budget priorities Tuesday night was one big mixed message.

Residents arrived with a wish list of programs they want given priority in the 1992-93 city budget: affordable housing, AIDS testing, discount cab fares for senior citizens, grad night, homeless programs, police, schools and women’s health.

Council members joined in the discussion of priorities, endorsing their own favorites, although seeming reluctant to meet head-on the call for belt tightening.

City Manager John Jalili and Finance Director Mike Dennis presented a gloomy scenario of budget cutbacks to cope with an estimated $3.5-million budget shortfall this year, with even bigger trims to come in preparing next year’s budget.

“We have some unprecedented circumstances facing the city of Santa Monica,” said Dennis. “In order to have new or expanded programs, reductions will have to take place in existing programs.”

The budget shortfall comes mainly from decreased sales tax revenue because of the recession, which is not likely to abate until at least 1993, Dennis said. City department heads have been asked to pencil in 5% cutbacks for next year’s budget.

“They don’t want to hear it,” said City Councilman Herb Katz after the meeting. “They don’t want to give up anything.”