Council Debates 2-Year Budget Plan

In an abbreviated budget workshop this week, the City Council reviewed Dana Point’s proposed $24.7-million financial plan for the next two years.

To improve long-range planning, the city is approving a budget for 1997 through 1999, instead of just next year.

The $12.5-million budget for 1997-1998 is up about 1.6% from this year’s, but revenue is also up about 7%, to $16 million. No new initiatives or programs are planned, but the city plans to cut two staff positions, finance director Susan M. Cannan said Wednesday.

Mayor Bill Ossenmacher said he wants the city to operate as efficiently as possible at a low cost so that it will have more discretionary money. And Councilwoman Toni I. Gallagher said she’d like to see the city spend that money on preserving open space.

But Councilwoman Karen Lloreda warned against cutting the budget for its own sake at the risk of diminishing services and demoralizing city staff.

“We have the money to give the people of this city the best services possible. And we haven’t had to ask for one more cent,” she said.

And Councilman Harold R. Kaufman said the city’s appearance would suffer if it eliminates one of its three code-enforcement officers, as the budget calls for.

Over the protests of Lloreda and Kaufman, the council then voted 3 to 2 to cease budget discussions until the June 10 council meeting. Lloreda said she fears the council won’t have enough time to properly review and pass the budget at the two meetings remaining before July 1, when the budget is supposed to go into effect. But Ossenmacher said council members could spend the interval getting budget questions answered individually by city staff.

The council also approved its $4.2-million contract for police services with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The price will increase, though, if deputies get a raise.