BUENA PARK : State Cuts to Spur Spending Reductions

State budget cuts totaling about $1 million will prompt another round of wide-ranging cuts in local spending, according to city officials.

“Everything is open for a look as far as I’m concerned,” said City Manager Kevin O’Rourke. “In my mind, it’s the third time (the city) will consider and do serious reductions” in two years. However, O’Rourke said new taxes or fees are unlikely.

As a result of the recently concluded state budget agreement, the city will lose $505,000 in general-fund revenue from property and cigarette taxes and $670,000 in redevelopment funds, O’Rourke said.

He said the hefty loss of redevelopment funds will hinder the city from gaining new commercial projects that generate sales and property taxes, which help pay for fire and police services. The cuts will also slow the city effort to bring about commercial and housing rehabilitation to improve the community.

In the past 24 months, Buena Park officials trimmed $3 million from their general-fund budget and eliminated 53 city positions. Seven of those jobs were wiped out through layoffs last spring, O’Rourke said.

“On top of this, we have to go back to looking at reducing services and eating up our reserves,” he said.

O’Rourke expects personnel cuts and spending reductions in all departments, including public safety. Pay decreases and work furloughs are other possible options. “The next level of cuts will create a situation where people will feel and see the cuts,” he said.

Police Chief Richard M. Tefank said his department has already eliminated three police officers and four non-sworn employees. But Tefank said the Police Department will suffer additional cutbacks. “At this time, I do not know what the specific impacts are to the department,” he said.

Councilman Don R. Griffin said he hopes the city can maintain current levels of police and fire service.

“The health and safety of our citizens is of primary importance,” he said.

Griffin said trimming the budget further is going to be difficult for the council to deal with since the city already has a bare-bones budget. “I intend to let our citizens know the culprit is Sacramento and not Buena Park,” he said.

The City Council is expected to take action on the cutbacks in October, O’Rourke said.