‘Bare-Bones’ Budget OKd By Simi Officials : Spending: The $24.8-million plan provides little funding for civic improvements but calls for no layoffs of city personnel.

After cutting nine already vacant jobs and postponing almost $400,000 in public works projects, the Simi Valley City Council unanimously adopted a no-frills budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

City leaders said the $24.8-million spending plan, approved late Monday, will require no layoffs. But at the same time it provides little money for civic improvement projects.

“It’s a bare-bones budget,” said John R. McMillan, director of the city’s General Services Department. “It represents a 1.7% increase in expenditures over this year.”

“We run a very lean city,” said Mayor Greg Stratton. “So in the good years, we were able to save some money and put money into roads and improvements. In the tough years you don’t have any money left over.

“There obviously wasn’t any money left this year for major improvements. There was just enough to do routine maintenance.”

When the proposed 1993-94 budget was unveiled by city staff members in May, spending exceeded the city’s expected income by $342,500.

To eliminate that deficit, the council in recent weeks has reviewed each city department, looking for ways to reduce the payroll or postpone equipment purchases and civic improvements.

When the council finished its review Monday night, the budget showed a surplus of $67,300.

Stratton said the jobs cut by the council were mainly planning, engineering and building inspector positions. These workers have not been needed because of a slowdown in the construction of new homes and businesses in recent years, the mayor said.

The budget had included money to pay these employees’ salaries, in case city administrators decided to hire new workers. Because the jobs are now erased from the budget, city administrators must get the council’s approval to hire more employees.

The largest project that the council chose to postpone was the reconstruction of Tierra Rejada Road, one of the main highways connecting Simi Valley and Moorpark.

Stratton said council members wanted to wait until an alternate route--the link between the Simi Valley and Moorpark freeways--opens late this year before work crews begin tearing up Tierra Rejada.

Postponing the project saved $294,000, city officials said.

The council also delayed some curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs and interior repainting of city buildings, saving almost $75,000.

Four Planning Department studies--concerning trees, scenic roads, design guidelines and noise mitigation--were also postponed, saving almost $120,000.

During its review sessions, the council approved a few additional purchases.

These included nine new patrol cars, two motorcycles, three unmarked cars and one parking enforcement vehicle, all for the Police Department. The police vehicles are expected to cost about $240,000.

The final spending plan also includes police pay raises that will cost $230,000 over the coming year.

The city plan does not take into account the pending state budget, which would shift $2.6 billion in local property taxes from local government to schools.

Simi Valley officials were uncertain Tuesday how this shift would affect the city’s budget. But they predicted that the impact would be modest and that layoffs would not be necessary.

Ken Schechter, the city’s budget officer, said that after the state spending plan is finalized, Simi Valley staff members will propose further cuts in the city’s budget.