Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Santa Clarita Adopts $69-Million Budget for 1994-95 : Finances: The plan is $19 million larger than the previous one. No major programs are cut.

The City Council on Tuesday night adopted a $69-million budget for 1994-95, $19 million more than the previous budget, dominated by construction projects and with few new programs or services.

The budget was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy dissenting.

The budget does not mandate layoffs, and no major programs were cut. But city employees get no cost-of-living pay increases and three full-time jobs were left unfilled.

Two assistant planner jobs were left open for the entire fiscal year, and an associate planner job will be vacant for six months.

“The budget reflects the third year of relatively flat revenue trends clashing with increasing costs to maintain the same level of services,” said City Manager George Caravalho in his annual budget message.

Santa Clarita expects to bring in $54.4 million in the upcoming fiscal year, with sales and property tax revenues totaling only about $531,000 more than the prior year because of a poor real estate market and a sluggish economy.

Council action Tuesday included passage of a $24 annual fee on property owners that will generate $2 million per year to cover some of the costs of monitoring and cleaning storm drains for pollutants, as required by the federal Clean Water Act.

The fee was adopted reluctantly, with council members expressing frustration at having to adhere to the federal pollution program or face legal action. “This is just another example of the federal government stepping in with another unfunded mandate,” said Mayor George Pederson.

“It’s not a simple matter, and it’s one the council has wrestled with for months,” said Councilman Carl Boyer.

The 1994-95 budget provides for more than $24 million in construction work. Topping that list is $11.3 million to widen sections of San Fernando Road, $3.2 million to repave city streets and $2.3 million for bicycling and walking trails.

Most city departments submitted budget requests with no increases from the prior year, but some new expenses were included:

* About $898,000 for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides Santa Clarita with police protection under contract. It includes a 5% cost-of-living increase for sheriff’s deputies, a storefront station in Newhall and additional deputies--one at the new La Mesa Junior High School and one for an anti-gang unit.

* About $835,000 to cover the cost of an expected legal fight against a proposed 190-million ton dump in Elsmere Canyon. The canyon is outside Santa Clarita’s city limits, but elected officials fear it would harm the underground water supply, air quality and property values.

* About $620,000 for previously expanded bus routes, including a new route to Century City, for the entire fiscal year.

* A $500,000 reserve for expenses caused by the Northridge earthquake that the Federal Emergency Management Agency may not reimburse to Santa Clarita.

Discussion of Santa Clarita’s 30-year redevelopment plan, that was to be adopted along with the budget document, was delayed until a study session tonight.