Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Lancaster Budget Seeks More Police Spending : Finances: The 1994-95 proposal also includes four layoffs. Extra funds would go for crackdowns on certain crimes.

City officials unveiled a proposed 1994-95 budget Wednesday that calls for the layoff of four employees and a boost in law enforcement spending, but no significant change in other city services.

Lancaster’s general fund expenditures, covering day-to-day city operations, would total $28.7 million, up just $22,600 from last year.

“We’re basically calling it a budget to maintain the same service levels as we’ve had in the past,” said Dennis Davenport, assistant city manager. “There’s basically a reduction in most departments, with the exception of public safety. Most of the savings you see in other departments is going into that community safety budget. That’s where the priority is.”

City Council members began reviewing the proposed budget at a meeting Wednesday morning at City Hall. The council will conduct a public hearing June 6 on the spending plan.

In a written report to the council, City Manager James C. Gilley cautioned that the budget proposal is based on assumptions that a slight improvement will occur in the local economy. At the same time, he said, the plan could require revamping if state lawmakers withhold money from cities to balance the state budget.

The budget allocates $10.5 million to community safety, up 6.4% from last year. Although some of this money will cover animal control and crossing guard expenses, the lion’s share--about $10.1 million--will pay for Lancaster’s contract for law enforcement services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Under the proposed budget, routine patrols by deputies will remain the same. The extra money will pay for special crackdowns on auto theft, juvenile crime (including curfew violations), graffiti, residential burglaries and traffic enforcement.

In addition, deputies will spend more time monitoring the activities of high-profile parolees who are released in Lancaster.

Some City Hall operations, including the planning and public works departments, face cutbacks under the proposed budget, partly because of the continuing slowdown in local building activity.

Lancaster, which has about 115,000 residents, has been reducing the size of the city’s work force since it reached a high of 279 employees three years ago, Davenport said.

*

Under the proposed 1994-95 spending plan, the city would have about 200 workers, about 10 fewer than last year. Some of these positions were left vacant after employees resigned or retired, but four current public works employees will lose their jobs under the plan, Davenport said.

City staff members also unveiled a separate spending plan calling for $41 million in capital improvements, including street repairs, new parks, drainage projects and traffic signals. Among the largest projects would be a new Metrolink commuter train station and a bridge to carry traffic over the Sierra Highway and the railroad tracks at Avenue H.