BREA : Police, Fire Service Would Be Preserved

Police, fire and maintenance services would be preserved at their current levels under a proposed operating budget being presented to the City Council today.

The proposal for the new fiscal year was balanced by cutting $2 million out of the $27.2-million general fund through a series of restructuring moves at City Hall.

This restructuring included letting contracts for certain services, using volunteers to help at the Police and Fire Departments and using technology to enhance productivity.

In addition, city departments have been reorganized to eliminate 32 vacant or soon-to-be-vacant positions.

City Manager Frank Benest said Brea has faced “a severe budget challenge” over the past three years due to tax revenue losses related to the recession, and cuts of $6.3 million in state funding.

These losses meant that a significant overhaul of city operations was necessary, rather than mere “belt-tightening” measures, Benest said.

The city manager cautioned that the proposed budget assumes that Southern California’s economy “continues its slow recovery and the state does not take away additional revenue to balance its budget.”

If the economy sours or the state slashes funding to cities after the November elections, Brea may have to start laying off employees, Benest said, which could mean service reductions in some areas.

Among the other items coming before the City Council today is a proposed law that would make it illegal for pedestrians to occupy center medians, except when they are in the process of crossing streets.

The proposed law is in response to safety hazards that have been created because of a “proliferation of vendors and panhandlers” on center medians in the city, Benest said.

If approved by the council, the law would impose a $100 fine for first-time offenders, a $200 fine for the second violation within a year and a $500 fine for the third and any subsequent violations.