IRVINE : City Council Votes to Delay Budget Cuts

With the Council chambers audience made up mostly of city staff members whose jobs or programs rested on the chopping block, the City Council this week delayed cutting a proposed $1.7 million from the budget.

Instead, the council voted 3 to 2 to have City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. prepare a report for the June 23 meeting showing exactly where he can trim $1.7 million in budgeted spending in order to bring the city’s emergency reserve fund back to the budgeted $6-million level.

Brady assured the council Tuesday that the city will end its two-year fiscal budget cycle in June, 1993, in the black, with at least $5.8 million in reserves. Although the reserves are not at $5.8 million now, Brady said, unspent money from various budget categories will add to the reserves next year.

The unspent money will come from a combination of salary savings, open positions, delayed purchases and other cost-containment measures, Brady said. He warned that forcing him to identify $1.7 million in specific cost savings now might require him to cut some programs or lay off employees. It is hard to predict exact areas where money will not be spent, he said.

The council’s review of the budget was prompted last month by Councilmen William A. (Art) Bloomer and Bill Vardoulis. They have been pushing for a full $6 million in reserves, saying the city should cut programs if necessary.

Bloomer suggested cutting such programs as cultural affairs, environmental affairs and urban forestry. Employees from each of those programs attended the council meeting Tuesday.

Bloomer said he wanted Brady to come back with recommended cuts in definite budget areas to total $1.7 million. Vardoulis and Councilman Barry J. Hammond supported Bloomer.

Councilwoman Paula Werner dissented. She said the council should trust Brady to manage the budget and hold the line on spending where he sees fit and that staff morale would be damaged by keeping the subject of budget cuts open for another two weeks.

“It’s pretty evident to me that the staff is sitting on the edge,” she said.

Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan also voted against Bloomer’s proposal.

Employees are “on the edge,” Brady agreed Wednesday. He said he will come back to the council June 23 with a list of as many specific cuts as possible.