IRVINE : Council Puts Squeeze on 1991-93 Budget

Community buildings at city parks will close an hour earlier starting next month and several cultural affairs programs will be cut under the city’s spending plan approved Wednesday.

A construction slowdown and lower-than-expected sales-tax revenues have created the city’s worst financial situation in its 19-year history, according to officials. But despite the revenue shortfall, the City Council approved the outlines of a two-year spending plan that keeps most programs and services functioning at existing levels.

But the council also voted not to allocate money for employee pay raises for the next two years and gave City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. the go-ahead to lay off employees if the economy worsens. Brady, though, says he foresees no layoffs being necessary.

After discussing the budget for more than six hours Tuesday night and into early Wednesday, the council made about $1 million in cuts to programs and services over the two years.

The council voted 3 to 2 to cut $50,000 a year from cultural affairs programs between July of this year and June of 1993. It also decided to funnel about $750,000 from further cuts or from additional revenue into its reserves, Brady said. The council is expected to make its final decision on the city’s 1991-93 budget Tuesday.

The council also decided to continue some programs that were threatened by the economic slowdown. The council voted to keep the city’s Adventure Playground open, continue a shuttle service for senior citizens and the disabled, and keep crossing guards and other community services that were threatened with cutbacks.

Other budget actions included:

* Cutting nearly all funding for studies of a Riverside-to-Irvine commuter rail line.

* Cutting a reduced-fare van service for Irvine rail commuters. But the county has said it will pick up the program to keep it from being lost, Brady said.

* Trimming $64,000 a year from affordable-housing programs.