BREA : No Layoffs in Lean 1995-96 City Budget

After trimming nearly $5 million in operating costs since 1990, the City Council had an easier time this week approving the city’s 1995-96 budget.

“We were pretty lean already,” said Assistant City Manager Tim O’Donnell. “After this last recession, our whole way of budgeting has changed. We’re used to taking a deeper look and asking if there are opportunities to stop doing work that we’re doing now or to contract out.”

The $28.2-million general fund budget for next year eliminates a vacant position and includes a plan to contract for outside mowing services at a savings of $85,000 but calls for no major changes or layoffs. The council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the budget.

In the past two years, the city has cut 32 vacant positions and contracted out for several services, including tree trimming.

The 1995-96 budget also includes an additional $160,000 for city streets to avoid more costly street reconstruction later, officials said.

The city’s largest source of revenue continues to be its sales taxes, anticipated to be $11.2 million next year. The largest city expense, $11 million, will go toward police services for Brea and Yorba Linda. The neighboring city, however, pays Brea $5.9 million a year for the law enforcement services.