CYPRESS : Job Cuts Considered in Budget Shortfall

Finance Director Richard M. Storey announced this week that the city is facing an additional $238,000 shortfall in this year’s budget.

He said when the city approved the 1993-94 budget six months ago, the City Council covered a $459,000 deficit with money from reserves.

Now, City Council members are considering eliminating jobs and making cuts in services in an effort to balance the budget this fiscal year and next. The 1994-95 budget is facing a $1-million deficit, Storey said.

The city has $4.1 million in reserves and could dip into those funds to cover the shortfall, but it is unlikely the council will do so, he said.

To balance this year’s $15.4-million budget and next year’s $15-million budget, council members are considering cuts they suggested at a study session Saturday and cuts recommended by the Budget Advisory Committee last month.

Some of those cuts include eliminating the jobs of the assistant city manager, the two police captains, the assistant city engineer, the assistant planning director and more than a dozen maintenance workers.

Further cuts under review include taking away the cars provided for use by the public works superintendent and two public works maintenance supervisors.

The council also is considering consolidating the Police Department’s communications system with those of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.

Other cuts include eliminating all city commissions and committees, reducing employee fringe benefits, trimming police training costs and reducing street sweeping services. But maintenance workers said they oppose having their jobs eliminated and having their services contracted with private companies.

“They love their jobs and believe they provide a real service to the city that the public doesn’t really appreciate,” said Robin Nahin, spokeswoman for the Cypress Maintenance Employees Assn.

Police said they also are opposed to cuts in their department.

“Some of the cuts can really hurt (police) management and could have detrimental effects in the long run,” said Officer David S. Birozy, the Cypress Public Safety Employees Assn. vice president.