Lawndale Will Hire Another Deputy
Despite a revenue shortfall triggered by the recession and state budget woes, the Lawndale City Council decided this week to bolster its police coverage by hiring an additional sheriff’s deputy through June.
At its midyear review of the 1991-92 budget, the council voted 5 to 0 to hire a full-time truancy officer for the next five months at a cost of about $40,000. Lawndale’s contract with the Sheriff’s Department accounts for about 30% of the city’s annual expenditures.
City Manager John E. Nowak, who updated the council on the city’s $7.1-million operating budget, said revenues for this budget year are about $160,000 lower than projected. The shortfall is due to flagging sales tax revenue and the state’s decision to keep a greater share of traffic fines and forfeiture fees.
But Nowak said the city is in adequate financial health: “We feel that we can maintain current service levels through next year.”
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