73 City Staff Jobs May Be Cut Due to Reduced Revenue : Budget: The 1992-93 proposal is almost $8 million less than the current budget. Pay raises may be limited to 2.5%. Water and electricity rates may go up 4.9%.

Glendale officials are proposing significant cutbacks in the city staff, including possible layoffs, as a result of reduced revenues due to the recession.

Preliminary figures released Tuesday anticipate a $288-million city budget for 1992-93--almost $8 million less than the current $295.8-million budget.

Seventy-three full-time staff positions, out of a total of 1,647, are cut in the budget, most by attrition. The city also is proposing to curtail cost-of-living salary increases to 2.5% across the board--below the 3.6% inflation rate for the area.

If employee unions reject the lower raises, additional cuts could be made, including layoffs, according to the preliminary report.

Though positions have been eliminated throughout the city staff, most of the proposed cuts are in parks and recreation, the library, refuse collection and street repairs.

Many jobs have been eliminated through technology, including introduction of computer programs such as library indexes and use of automated equipment such as trash pickup vehicles that require only one operator-driver instead of two or three crew members.

The proposed budget does not call for any new or raised taxes, but City Manager David Ramsay said the staff cutbacks could affect services.

“While we are constantly striving for increased efficiency, there is also some real concern over service levels to the community,” he said.

Also, officials said they expect to raise residential water and electricity rates by 4.9% to meet federal- and state-required environmental improvements to the city’s power plant and water reclamation projects.

Lower sales tax revenues also are expected to result in cuts in the city’s capital improvement fund, down from $117.3 million this year to $115.5 million next year. Sales taxes are used to finance half of the city’s capital improvements.

The recession also has lowered interest earnings on city investments, building permits and transfer fees.

The City Council has scheduled two study sessions on the proposed budget at 8:30 a.m. June 8 and 15 in the city manager’s conference room at City Hall, 613 E. Broadway. A public hearing before the council will be held at 2 p.m. June 23. The budget takes effect July 1.