Council Gets Going on Budget Plans Monday

The City Council next week will tackle a proposed two-year budget that includes all city operation expenditures, fees and capital improvement funds.

An overview of the proposal will be presented and public hearings regarding money allocated for the council, city manager, city clerk, administrative services, personnel and the airport will be held Monday at 3:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. the same day, the community services, library, Fire and Police Department budgets will be discussed.

Then Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., officials will discuss the budgets for the development services, engineering, redevelopment and economic development and maintenance services departments and the capital improvement program.

The public may attend the meetings at City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth Ave., to voice opinions, concerns or suggestions.

Copies of the 303-page document are available at City Hall or the public library next door.

The total proposed budget--$88 million for the 1997-98 fiscal year and $76.3 million for 1998-99--represents a city government that is smaller and less costly to operate, officials said.

In fact, the total number of city employees has been reduced by 16% in the last six years, City Manager James L. Armstrong said in his overview statement of the budget. In addition, the general operating fund, which pays for services such as police and fire, is nearly 10% smaller than it was seven years ago.