City Council Postpones Budget Hearing

Although it must approve its 1993-94 budget by next week, the Malibu City Council on Monday again postponed its public hearing on the spending plan until next week.

City Manager David Carmany said Tuesday that the city has produced a balanced budget despite the anticipated loss of more property taxes to the state. But Carmany said he is concerned about the effect of property tax losses on the Los Angeles County budget because Malibu contracts with the county for law enforcement and fire protection.

The city’s proposed $6.6-million operating budget was presented to the council May 24, and will be brought back for a public hearing and final adoption on Monday.

The city anticipates revenue of about $6.9 million, down from $7.2 million last year. Expenditures will total nearly $6.6 million, down from $6.8 million last year.

The city is expecting a $230,000 drop in revenue from planning and building permit fees because of reduced building activity and a reduction in some levies. It has also anticipated a loss of $188,000 in property taxes to the state, which is keeping a larger share to cope with its own fiscal problems.

But Malibu may still be affected. Carmany said that although the 1993-94 county contract with the Sheriff’s Department remains unchanged, the county fire department may have to close one out of every three fire stations, including one in Malibu. The county fire department is a special district funded mainly by property taxes.

Malibu has four fire stations and Fire Station 99 on Pacific Coast Highway is on the hit list, he said.

Copies of Malibu’s proposed budget are available for public review at City Hall and the Malibu Public Library.