Budget slashes positions

Everything from the city jail to public libraries will be affected as Huntington Beach asks civic departments to leave employees, programs and services on the cutting room floor in its 2009-10 budget.

At a City Council study session Monday evening, officials offered a balanced budget but painted a grim picture for the future, showing that there will be a 7% decline in projected revenue for next year, compared to 2008-09. Sales tax revenues plummeted 22%; the transient occupancy tax is down about 28%. The state also took away $10.8 million in funds, half of which will be returned in the future.

In future years, officials estimate the budget gap will be even more upside-down.

“I was feeling pretty rosy until you gave this to us Friday and scared the hell out of us,” City Councilman Devin Dwyer told city administrators.

In order to close the gap, the budget writers proposed a reduction of nearly $9 million from departmental budgets, as well as nearly $10 million from planned capital expenditures — leaving only $1 million in capital funds this year.

Left behind

Each department was asked to find ways to cut programs and services, on top of previous cuts. Following are examples of proposed measures.

The Police Department will keep several vacant positions unfilled, including 11 patrol officers, four records specialists, a criminalist and two communication operators, resulting in impacts in all areas — including a “reduction or elimination of cold case investigations,” officials said.

They also will forego hiring a detention shift supervisor, who would supervise and manage jail operations, meaning the department won’t meet the state Board of Corrections’ mandated minimum staffing levels. The cut could cause a delay in response times, and the jail may need to be closed periodically if required items cannot be purchased.

The Fire Department will reallocate three engineers and a fire paramedic to fire prevention duties. Four sworn positions will be converted to non-sworn positions. SWAT paramedics will not be made available to the police department, which could increase the impact of an injury or the possibility of loss of life.

In Community Services, cuts include the Summer Concert Series, four summer lifeguards, the Sister Cities Assn. and Newland House Museum stipends, civic swim program at Huntington Beach High School, end-of-summer swim show, city track meet, citywide and senior tournaments and stipends. Youth In Government Day may be canceled. Day camps will have reduced staffing and field trips. The SANDS magazine will no longer be mailed to homes.

Library officials expect longer lines. Materials budgets have been “slashed,” they said. Kids’ clubs and story times may be eliminated.

Economic Development plans to close a job center and eliminate some business development contributions.

Public Works plans to lay off four in-house road workers, and lessen the frequency of many services like slurry sealing, landscaping, graffiti removal and pier inspection.

Past pain; future shock

Recent measures to close the gap included reducing all departmental budgets by 10% over a two-step process, resulting in saving $7.5 million; enacting a 70-position hiring freeze; and altering contributions for employee benefits.

Capital projects have been delayed, and the Emerald Cove senior housing complex was sold for $3.4 million.

Future challenges include planned infrastructure needs and an economy that is projected to take a long time to recover, officials said.

Suggested measures for the future include increasing the city retirement property tax rate, additional department reductions, and possible furlough or raise deferments.

The city’s second budget study session will be Aug. 17. A public hearing on the budget is slated for Sept. 8.