ANAHEIM : Council to Consider Extending Utility Tax

The City Council tonight will consider a one-year extension of a controversial utility tax and the proposed city budget, which includes new rental fees for some popular books and tapes from the library and increased fees for recreation programs and golf.

The 2% utility tax and the fee increases, which will be voted on separately, are necessary to balance the $135-million budget for 1993-94, city administrators say. That public hearing will begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

Under the library proposal, rental rates would be $1.50 a week for some books considered bestsellers and $3 for some books on tape. One free copy of each would be kept for those willing to wait.

The program would raise $3,000 annually for the library, which has seen its materials budget fall from $812,000 three years ago to a proposed $450,000 next fiscal year.

“It’s not meant to make money but to just be self-supporting,” library director William J. Griffith said. “On very popular material, we have a difficult time keeping up with the demand. This will allow us to buy additional copies without diverting money from our materials budget.”

The increased recreation fees would affect 35 of the 355 programs the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department offers. Programs affected would include adult sports leagues, which will see fee increases of up to 34%, and programs that have been heavily subsidized by the city, such as day care for senior citizens.

In a report to the council, department director Christopher Jarvi said no fee will be in excess of the city’s cost to provide the program.

Under the green fee proposal, golfers would pay $22 to play 18 holes on weekends at H.G. (Dad) Miller and Anaheim Hills golf courses, a $2 increase, and $13 to play nine holes on weekends, a $1 increase. Weekday fees would not be affected. The increase would raise about $175,000 for the city.

The utility tax, which is applied to gas, water, electricity and telephone bills of both residents and businesses, brings in $8 million a year to the city. It was adopted two years ago as a temporary measure to help balance the city’s budget, with a clause requiring its expiration this Sept. 30.

Last Tuesday, a motion by Mayor Tom Daly to kill the tax when it expires failed when Councilman Fred Hunter abstained from the vote and the council deadlocked 2 to 2. Hunter, who last month said he would support the extension, said he abstained because he wanted to give residents a chance to speak at tonight’s public hearing.