Council Expected to Approve Budget

After six weeks of reworking the budget proposed for fiscal 1996-97, City Council members said they expect to approve a final $32-million spending plan tonight.

The city held a finance workshop and a public hearing last month. Partly as a result of those sessions, the city staff is recommending a number of changes to the spending plan, which calls for no increases in fees or taxes.

As now proposed, the budget includes $20,000 to hire an arts coordinator and another $20,000 for an additional police officer.

The council also will consider appropriating $48,000 to make sure the city has enough money to buy six new buses and to rehabilitate a trolley. Most of the money needed for the buses was included in the current year’s budget.

Other additions to the spending plan include $70,000 to refurbish the Laguna Art Museum building and $40,000 to help cover expenses at the Laguna Beach Community Clinic. Another $75,000 is included to build a skateboard park at a site to be determined later.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

Information: (714) 497-0705.