SAN CLEMENTE : Council Amends Budget Proposal

The City Council made last-minute changes Wednesday to a budget proposal to include the elimination of 14 employee positions and the dismantling of the city Public Works Department.

This is the second consecutive year that the city has had budget problems, mainly because of the recession and dwindling state funds, City Manager Michael W. Parness said.

“We’re now at the point where if things don’t improve, we’ll have to make some drastic cuts to some of our programs,” Parness said. “We’re going to have to be doing more with less.”

Under the 1992-93 budget proposal, the city would cope with an estimated $2.5-million shortfall by making about $1.9 million in cuts, including eliminating the 14 positions and raising some fees, such as those for copies of police arrest reports.

Also proposed is the elimination of the Public Works Department, which would be merged with other departments, and the elimination of an assistant city manager position.

Although most of the slashed positions will be taken care of through attrition, Parness said the city will probably need to lay off at least two employees.

“This is by far the largest amount of positions we’ve had to cut,” Parness said. “It’s going to be a little chaotic around here.”

The city also proposes to discontinue financial support for all special events in the city, including the traditional Fourth of July fireworks show.

In one bit of good news, the council learned Wednesday that the city will receive an extra $300,000 in state gas tax revenue to help improve neighborhood streets. The council also decided to grant $400 to the San Clemente Sister City Assn.

Council members are slated to take final action on the budget proposal on June 17, although the state’s precarious financial situation still has city officials guessing about what type of cuts might be coming.

“We may end up (reassessing the city’s fiscal status) right after the budget is adopted and start the process all over again,” Parness said.