Costa Mesa : Arts, Parade Sliced Out by Budget Ax

The police daytime helicopter patrol was saved from the budget ax, but arts funding wasn’t so fortunate as the City Council struggled to balance the books before the fiscal year ends.

In a series of actions, the council on Tuesday cut some programs while agreeing to fund others, including the police helicopter service costing $210,000 and new carpeting for City Hall for an estimated $135,000.

Although hotly contested by some council members, $4,500 for Grad Night at the city’s three local high schools was also approved.

“I just see this as something that we can no longer continue to put money into when we are facing such fiscal impacts,” said Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle who, despite her own protests, voted for the funding.

Coming out on the losing side was the entire art grants budget of $87,500, and $5,000 for the city’s float entry in the Fish Fry Parade.

The art grants had been on hold since last year, after being pared down from an original allocation of $175,00. In the past, the money was awarded to as many as 16 local art groups that used the funds to provide outreach programs for children and senior citizens.

Members of the arts community were bracing for this latest cut.

“It has been very difficult in the last few years, but we never thought this would happen,” said Irene Hajak, chairwoman of the Costa Mesa Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, which helped award the grants. “We are very distraught over this.”

Even with the cuts, the council was told the city still might end the fiscal year in June with a $185,000 deficit in its $68-million budget, despite the council’s decision to extend a hiring freeze by four months and put off spending for nonessential items.

The $135,000 allocation for the carpeting, on hold since 1991, fell into the “nonessential” category. However, City Manager Allan L. Roeder said the carpet had become so tattered that it was potentially dangerous and either had to be replaced or taken out.

Lagging property and sales tax revenue have contributed to the city’s bleak financial picture during the past few years. Adding to that are costs from the recent storms.