DANA POINT : 2 City Commissions’ Budgets Cut in Half

A lengthy session of city budget talks this week wound up with two city commissions getting their annual funding slashed in half by the City Council for fiscal 1992.

While the council was scheduled to approve a revised city budget Thursday night, the panel on Tuesday cut funding for the city’s Cultural Commission and the Human Services Commission from $50,000 each to $25,000 each for the current fiscal year. Another local organization that relies on city funds, the Festival of Whales Committee, also had its backing cut, from $65,000 last year to $40,000 for this year.

The cuts came as part of a general belt-tightening in several areas, said Councilwoman Eileen Krause.

“We tightened up the budget in lots of places, cutting travel expenses, staff training expenses, as well as the commissions,” Krause said. “We may change and go back to the higher levels, but it depends on what happens to the state budget.”

Councilman Mike Eggers blamed the state shortfall for the council’s spending cuts.

“We have to look at the reality of an $11-billion state budget shortfall,” Eggers said. “I don’t think the cultural organizations would be happy accepting IOUs from the city, any more than those people are who are accepting them from the state.”

Wendy Lockwood-Larson, chairwoman of the Cultural Commission, expressed her dismay at the cuts, although she said she understood the position the city is in.

“I understand what is happening, but I feel very strongly that cultural activities are very, very important to the residents of this city,” she said. “It saddens my heart, because there are a lot of worthwhile organizations that need our support, and funds are being cut everywhere. I would hope the council will come back to this later.”

Funds for the commissions are allocated by the council twice a year. The council is expected to announce its next slate of city grants in September.

“If our budget picture changes, we can always restore these cuts,” Eggers said. “If it doesn’t, we have at least covered the first cycle of commission funding. This allows us to continue to process grant applications.”