SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Community Service Cuts Get Initial OK

The City Council has given its nod to an initial staff plan to trim $140,000 from the Community Services Department budget.

Among the areas slated for possible cuts are after-school programs, the flu shot clinic, annual trail ride and city support for special events such as the Fiesta de las Golondrinas reception.

About $100,000 in cuts to recreation programs and special events were made Tuesday, and another $40,000 will be trimmed from personnel.

The city staff is also considering where fees might be raised for such activities as renting ball fields.

City officials hope that private nonprofit organizations will be able to help keep alive city-supported programs that end up being cut.

Final council approval, expected in 30 to 45 days, would roll the department back to its 1987 funding level, said Al King, community services director.

King has said that layoffs could be possible among the 25 employees, eight of whom are full-time.

The council this month approved the department’s $1.48-million budget request when passing a $10.2-million general fund, but it asked the department to reduce its budget by the $140,000.

City Manager George Scarborough said the city must carve another $60,000 in personnel costs elsewhere in the city’s budget.