07-21-1975 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

PUBLIC HEARING 1975-76 PROPOSED BUDGET Budget for the fiscal year 1975-76, $44,901,865. Mayor Garthe announced that this was the time and place for the public hearing on the proposed in the total amount of The City Manager stated that the proposed budget had been reduced from 45.2 million to 44.9 million dollars by re- ducing the crime abatement program from 110 positions to 98 positions, by reducing minor capital items and curtail- ment of certain City services; that it had been difficult to develop a balanced budget because of the 12% inflation rate; that it was necessary to cut the budget by 1½ million while implementing the public safety program the Council had approved; that to accomplish the desired budget program, 45 full-time positions were cut from the regular City staff and 98 positions were added to the Police Department plus a second paramedic unit for the Fire Department at a cost of 2.8 million dollars for the next year to be funded by additional revenues; that the additional revenues can be a combination of the utility user tax and an increase in the property tax or an increase in the property tax only; that it was not the Manager's inten- tion to emphasize the problems; that included in the budget are a number of fine projects that will be a credit to Santa Ana. The Clerk of the Council stated that Council had been provided with copies of all the correspondence received to date re- garding the budget and the methods proposed for its funding. Mayor Garthe opened the public hearing and invited comment on the Budget from members of the audience: The following persons spoke: Mrs. Judy Suchey, 3107 Heather Drive, Fullerton, who requested reconsideration of the elimination of one Anthropological Curator from the Bower's Museum Department personnel. She stated that deletion of the position represented a departure from previous museum policy and would not be in the best interest of the community. Mr. John Meola, 2631 South Lowell, who spoke in favor of the Crime Abatement program, and increasing the police force by 98 personnel to institute team policing, in an effort to lower the City's crime rate. Mr. Raymond L. Johnson, 3118 South Townsend Street, who suggested that rather than a 34% increase in the police force that police reserved be utilized rather than full-time officers as a method of putting policemen on the street at a lower cost. Mr. William Lardner, 1614 West Edinger, who stated his opposition to increasing the police force because the real problem is the justice system and taxation burdens have become too heavy, especially for the elderly. Mrs. Ann Famalaro, Victoria Drive, who supported the crime abatement program but felt that further cuts in the budget could be effected in lieu of additional taxes. Mr. Joe Vogel, who stated that the budget did not provide enough for senior citizens; and that the judicial system would CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 321 JULY 21, 1975