IRVINE : Council to Weigh Cuts in Programs

With two City Council members asking for deeper cuts in planned spending over the next year, the council tonight will consider whether to eliminate cultural, environmental and advanced transportation programs to balance the budget.

The deepest cuts, proposed last month by Councilman William A. (Art) Bloomer, would result in eliminating the equivalent of 23 full-time employees, including one of two assistant city managers.

Even with the proposed $1.6 million in cuts on the agenda, it is unlikely the council will eliminate any major programs or lay off employees.

Bloomer said he proposed his cuts to stop the city from spending about $1.7 million more than it will take in during the next 12 months.

But on Friday, City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. distributed a memo to City Council members arguing that he can balance the final year of the city’s 1991-93 budget with $1.5 million to $2 million in cost savings dating back to 1990.

If Brady can show enough current or proposed spending reductions to keep income in line with spending, Bloomer said Monday, the councilman will not push for major cuts.

But Bloomer said that he would like Brady to identify exact budget items that will be reduced to keep the budget balanced.

Until he received Brady’s report last week, which said that some of Bloomer’s proposed cuts had already been made, the city manager had never identified specific budget savings, Bloomer said.

“(Brady) says he’s got another million and a half (dollars) he’s going to save next year,” Bloomer said.

“If that’s the case, cut it. Show me where those savings are to take place and cut them. Take them out of the budget.”