West Hollywood Cuts $666,000 From 1991-92 Budget

The West Hollywood City Council has agreed to slash $666,000 from next year’s estimated $32-million budget, to soften the blow of an anticipated drop in state funding that is expected during the 1991-92 fiscal year.

The City Council tentatively approved the cuts during a special budget session Monday night. The council to absorb a large portion of the drop in state funds without raising taxes. “It appears we have exceeded our goal this year,” said Mayor John Heilman after the council approved cuts surpassing the target of $650,000.

The package of cuts will be reviewed by the city’s staff and presented to the council for approval at Monday’s regular meeting. Heilman said the city will consider an additional $750,000 in cuts when it tackles its 1991-92 budget next year.

City officials expect the $1.5-million reduction in state funds to hit the city once the 1990 Census is tabulated.

The state funds, which are proceeds from gasoline and cigarette taxes and vehicle registration fees, are allocated to municipalities based on population. Since its incorporation in 1984, West Hollywood has received more than its share of state revenues, city officials said. Because West Hollywood had no 1980 Census figures on which to base these allocations, figures were set by a formula that uses the number of registered voters to determine the number of people in an average household.

But West Hollywood has an unusually high percentage of voters because it has many one-person households and relatively few children. City officials said the formula had the effect of treating the city as if its population were about 67,000. City officials estimate the population is about 38,000.

Officials expect to be able to add an additional $200,000 to city coffers as result of the passage of Proposition 111, which increased the gas tax, as well as from grants to the city’s human services department.

The council expects to save $100,000 by dismantling the city’s Public Works Department and spreading its responsibilities to other departments.

The remaining $360,000 savings was accomplished through reductions in tree plantings, park maintenance and city-sponsored social events. The council also asked that the city’s eight commissions and boards try to scale back meetings from twice a month to once a month.

Residents from the city’s east side, who attended Monday’s meeting at Plummer Park auditorium, criticized the council for overlooking a $400,000 savings that would be available if the city canceled the planned opening of the 70-bed homeless shelter on La Brea Avenue.

“Here we are down to cutting pennies from residents, and they are willing to spend $500,000 on strangers,” said Ed Riney, a member of the Eastend Community Action, a neighborhood group which opposes the shelter.

Group members also urged the city to continue funding the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s successful foot patrol program in their community.

The program, which costs an estimated $140,000 for each deputy on patrol, will continue for the time being, city officials said. The city will also study an “admissions tax” on theaters and night clubs to raise money to fund the program on a more long term basis.