West Hollywood : $36.5-Million Budget OKd

The City Council on Monday approved a $36.5-million budget for 1992-93 amid predictions that officials will soon have to cut it to make up for expected drops in state help for local governments.

The council temporarily set aside a $364,000 proposal to expand the city’s recycling program until it hears details next month on how it will be paid for. If that amount is passed, the resulting $36.9-million operating and capital budget would be nearly $2 million lower than last year’s budget.

The budget leaves a cushion of $395,000 in general operating funds to cover unplanned expenses. The eventual settlement of contract talks with unions representing City Hall employees could eat up a big chunk of that amount, and officials assume that they will have to make up for expected new losses of $500,000 to $700,000 in state funding as lawmakers seek ways to erase the state’s projected $10.7-billion shortfall.

Across Southern California, local officials have decried proposals to trim the amount of property tax and vehicle license fees that are shared with municipalities.

“The days of the annually adopted budget are pretty much over. It’s going to be a perpetual process,” said Paul Arevalo, the city’s finance officer.

Council members restored money to maintain Sunday library hours and to delay laying off one of the three employees whose positions were to be eliminated. The council rejected a last-minute suggestion by Mayor Paul Koretz to save an estimated $600,000 by cutting back traffic enforcement provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.