Public Invited to Budget Workshop Tuesday Night

Redondo Beach residents are invited to the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget workshop Tuesday at the City Chambers from 6 p.m. This workshop will allow the public to make comments on the budget before the first City Council public hearing on June 1.

Last week, City Manager Bill Workman turned in a budget proposal to the city council. In the proposed budget plan, the city manager said that the Redondo Beach economy is "entering an era of a new lower normal" without a revenue rebound in the upcoming fiscal year.

The total city revenue is estimated to be $91.5 million and the total expenditures proposed for all funds is $98.9 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. In order to reduce a $3.7 million deficit in the general fund, Workman has suggested a various expense cuts, including a continuation of the 6 percent salary reductions the city employees received this fiscal year. He recommends deauthorizing one vacant administrative position at the fire department and limiting the hours of part-time city workers.

Workman, who's known for his adage: "City budgeting begins with revenue, then you can start the debate about how to spend that revenue which is available," has also requested to increase the fees for holding library materials to save $24,000 and to cap the income-based after-school playground program fee waivers from unlimited to 60 per year.

The proposal suggests that staffing for the North Branch Library, which is slated to reopen in September, will be 32 hours per week operating from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. 

The city council will continue to review the budget at meetings June 1 and 15. A separate workshop to review the Capital Improvement Budget is set for June 8.