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Long Beach Council OKs $1.7-Billion Budget

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The Long Beach City Council has approved a $1.7-billion combined municipal budget that calls for a large increase in parking fines and the use of $25.2 million in emergency reserves to offset a gaping deficit.

Under the budget, approved late Tuesday night, the fine for exceeding time limits on parking meters will jump from $17 to $27. The fine for parking in a no-parking zone would rise from $25 to $37.

The increase in fines and use of reserves was needed to offset a $32.1-million deficit. The budget will take effect Oct. 1.

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City Manager James C. Hankla said that although most revenue sources in Long Beach were growing, they were not rising fast enough to offset a steep decline in property values and the continued effects of the recession.

The city’s key general purpose portion of the 1997-98 budget, which includes spending on police and fire services, will be $307 million, just one-half of 1% higher than the current budget.

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