SANTA ANA : Hearing to Be Held Today on Budget
The Santa Ana City Council will hold a public hearing today on its proposed 1993-94 budget, which includes cuts and new fees to offset a projected $19-million shortfall.
Under a plan outlined by City Manager David N. Ream, more than 80 employees could be laid off, including 15 Police Department employees, 12 Fire Department workers and seven managers.
Ream’s proposed $121.7-million budget calls for saving about $10.6 million through employee reductions and raising about $8.4 million through new or increased fees, possibly including a cable television tax.
However, the council has rejected a controversial plan to save $460,000 by closing the McFadden Library, a proposal that generated fierce community opposition.
At a budget study session Thursday, the council instructed city staff to keep the library open. About 20 people in the audience cheered and applauded the move.
“The cuts are going to have to come from some other place, or additional revenues would have to be raised,” Councilwoman Lisa Mills said. “It was a clear consensus that none of the members present wanted to close that library.”
Mills added that the council also instructed staff not to cut the Library Department’s $107,000 book budget.
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