GARDEN GROVE : Council Considers Ways to Cut Budget

Facing a potential multimillion-dollar shortfall in next year’s budget, City Council members were presented this week with several options to reduce expenditures, including employee layoffs, pay cuts, a reduction in fire services and elimination of some citizen advisory boards.

Assistant City Manager Mike Fenderson said the city expects to receive $41 million from all sources for operating revenue in 1993-94 while expenditures are forecast at $46.2 million. In addition, state government is expected to take about $1.3 million from the city’s general fund budget to balance the state budget.

But Fenderson said the city’s financial predicament will be eased somewhat by a $3.2-million refund from the state employees retirement system. The city can save another $1.2 million by continuing a hiring freeze, reducing salaries and benefits or laying off employees.

Mayor Frank Kessler said, however, that the city’s labor force of about 600 has sacrificed enough and that he strongly opposes “balancing the budget on the backs of employees.”

Municipal workers here have not received a pay increase in two years. More than 50 positions were eliminated last year, and 40 other positions are vacant.

“I’m covered,” one disgruntled employee shouted at the council during this week’s meeting. “I just bought a tent.”

City officials say Garden Grove can save another $450,000 by closing a fire station at night in an industrial section on Western Avenue. But Councilman Mark Leyes said he believes that savings can be achieved in other programs and that the nighttime closing of the fire station won’t be necessary.

The city also is recommending the elimination of some advisory commissions for community services, art, senior citizens, youth and water, for a savings of $9,300 in stipends paid to commissioners. There would be a hidden, and larger, savings because the city would no longer have to staff the meetings with paid employees.

Finally, the city plans to postpone the purchase of new police cars for another year, defer building and street maintenance, continue a hiring freeze for a fourth straight year and not raise salaries.

Council members are scheduled to make final budget decisions next month.