Smart budgets are a refreshing change

Sometimes, the status quo isn’t such a bad thing.

Take, for instance, the proposed 2005-06 budgets for Costa Mesa

and Newport Beach. In a time when prices seem to be skyrocketing in

just about every venue, the fiscal plans have a pleasantly familiar

feel to them.

Newport Beach’s proposed budget, minus capital projects, has a

small increase in spending in its $186.9 million plan, thanks to

increases in property tax revenue. Costa Mesa also has a increase in

its budget, projected at $117.7 million.

What does it all mean? Increased staffing in both cities, without

cutting any city services. That means Newport Beach can complete work

on the Mariners branch library and start on the Santa Ana Heights

YMCA and the Newport Coast Community Center. Costa Mesa will be able

to put money toward its new skate park and upgrade the TeWinkle Park

athletic complex.

There be items and clauses to be hemmed and hawed over, but that’s

the nature of budget negotiations. At least the two cities have shown

some solid money management in planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

And that should be recognized and applauded.

About the only downside would be Costa Mesa’s need to tap into

$2.6 million of carryover funds to balance the budget. Then again, as

city Finance Director Marc Plunkett pointed out, that has more to

with the state’s troubles -- and its dipping into the city’s coffers

-- than anything else.

Hmmm. Perhaps it would do the governor well to take a look at the

Newport-Mesa area to see how to do things.