AGOURA HILLS : Council Budget Cuts Programs, Hikes Fees

The Agoura Hills City Council this week approved a budget for the new fiscal year without a proposed utility tax, but which includes cuts to senior citizen programs and street sweeping and increased fees for recreation and business-related services.

Weekly street sweeping in commercial areas and biweekly sweeping in residential areas of the city will be cut to once a month, except during the fall, to help offset a roughly $200,000 revenue drop over last fiscal year, said City Manager Terry Matz.

At a meeting Wednesday, the council also approved cuts to street and sidewalk work, salaries for part-time recreation workers and special events for seniors, although no senior citizen programs were expected to be canceled.

Fee hikes for planning and business registration and a $5 surcharge on the sale of dog licenses also were approved.

But the council brushed aside a proposed 5% utility tax, which would have added $500,000 to the $4.8-million spending plan and $1 million annually after this fiscal year.

“On a long-term basis, (the utility tax) is something that the city needs to look at,” Mayor Ed Kurtz said. “But I don’t see it happening this year.”