SAN CLEMENTE : City Hopes to Cut Additional $604,500

In an effort to cut another $604,500 from the city budget, city administrators are recommending that an additional 11 1/2 municipal positions be eliminated from already spare ranks.

Although Assistant City Manager Paul Gudgeirsson declined to say just where the cuts would be made, he did say that every department, including police and fire services, would be affected.

The City Council, which will hold a special hearing Sept. 30, will be given a report detailing the proposed cuts on Friday, Gudgeirsson said. Other long-term options such as enacting a utility tax or contracting with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for police services, will also be included in the report.

If the council were to cut $604,500 in city services and eliminate the 11 1/2 positions, up to five people could stand to lose their jobs, Gudgeirsson said.

But at least one City Council candidate has come up with what he thinks is a better way to deal immediately with the shortfall: Cut the pay of top city administrators by up to 20%.

“I think it would generate a goodwill feeling throughout the community,” said candidate Jay Durkin, a San Clemente resident for 31 years.

Under his proposal, administrators making between $65,000 and $100,000 per year would take a 10% to 20% cut in their salary, Durkin said.

Without counting benefits, no city employee earns a straight salary of more than $100,000 per year, according to the city personnel office. City Manager Michael W. Parness draws the top City Hall salary of $8,250 a month, or $99,000 a year, not counting benefits.

Durkin said he will make his proposal directly to the City Council during the Sept. 30 hearing.