1.8% Budget Boost Asked by Anaheim City Manager

Anaheim City Manager Bob Simpson on Tuesday presented the City Council with the proposed 1988-89 budget, a tightly balanced plan that generally maintains the current level of public services but reflects the city’s continuing budgetary crunch.

The $458-million package represents a modest 1.8% increase over the 1987-88 budget of $450 million. Last year’s budget included an $8- million shortfall that was not resolved until January, when the city reduced spending and trimmed nearly $3 million through reductions in street maintenance.

Minor service reductions continue in the 1988-89 budget, primarily in the Police Department, where 12 positions--including those for four police officers--will go unfilled.

The plan also calls for closing a city playground and a swimming pool.

However, the recent resolution of a lengthy legal dispute--for which more than $5 million had been set aside in the new proposed budget--may provide the city with more resources to pay for some or all of the positions or add to other programs, city officials said Tuesday.

Still, Simpson acknowledged, maintenance and improvements have been neglected in recent years to maintain funding levels for city services: “Improvements . . . at Anaheim Stadium and for arterial streets, storm drains and traffic signalization (remain to be accomplished). The city cannot continue to put off into the future these rehabilitation projects if we are to achieve the community vision which we have for Anaheim in the year 2000.”

The overall budget for city programs will increase by $8.8 million, or 4%, while capital improvement projects are expected to decrease by about $8 million, or 10%, from last year’s budget. In addition, the costs of public utilities--electric and water production--will outstrip expected revenues by more than $7 million.

Revenues from sales tax are expected to increase to $34 million, from $32 million in 1987-88, while the transient occupancy tax is expected to bring in nearly $24 million, up from $20 million last year.

The proposed budget includes minor increases in planning and zoning permit fees, Anaheim Stadium rental charges, parking penalties and other service charges that will account for more than $11 million in revenue.

About $1.7 million has been set aside for continuing the Police 2000 project, a $24-million public safety package included in last year’s budget. The project includes automation of the records division, upgrading police communications systems and expanding and refurbishing police and jail facilities.

The parks, recreation and community service budget calls for the addition of four positions, including two anti-gang, youth outreach workers for the impoverished Jeffrey-Lynne neighborhood.

Major capital improvement projects include more than $11 million for street construction, $1.2 million for storm drain and sewer construction and more than $1 million in improvements to city parks.

The city has tentatively scheduled budget hearings to start June 7.

PROPOSED $458--MILLION ANAHEIM CITY BUDGET

(July 1, 1988-June 30, 1989)

INCOME

8.3%: Misc/Fund Balance

3%: Sanitation Charges

3.1%: Fees/Permits/Servce Charges

3.3%: Property Taxes

5.2%: Transient Occupancy Tax

7.4%: Sales Tax

7.3%: Shared Revenues

2.1%: Convention Center

6.2%: Stadium/Golf

54.1%: Public Utilities

EXPENDITURES

4.1%: Streets and Sanitation

1.1%: Library Services

12.3%: Public Safety

4.2%: Public Works/Engineering

2.6%: Parks/Recreation/Community Services

3.5%: Other Government Services

3.2%: Council Departments

9.5%: Stadium/Convention Center/Golf

59.5%: Public Utilities