Council member warns
of further budget cutsKobayashi says plans to generate
revenue must be approved
City Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi said an additional $1.3 million in cuts may be needed to balance the budget if Mayor Jeremy Harris' revenue-generating proposals aren't approved.
The Council's second draft of the $1.22 billion fiscal 2005 budget, released yesterday, includes restoration of about $2 million in vacant positions, equipment and other expenses that were cut in the first pass.
Kobayashi made a plea to her colleagues yesterday as they continued to comb through and suggest changes to the proposed operating budget: "Please do not add anymore stuff."
Administration officials said yesterday that they had no immediate comment because they will probably spend the weekend analyzing the budget draft to respond in time for Monday's special Budget Committee meeting, which will take up the operating, capital improvement and legislative budgets.
Kobayashi said she anticipates the response from the administration.
"They don't like us to cut their budget. If they want to, they can tell us where to cut," Kobayashi said.
But some Council members are concerned that the remaining cuts, including elimination of positions, still will have a serious effect on city services.
"We're operating now at the margins," Councilman Gary Okino said. "Although (the cuts) are a little bit from each department, I think it's critical because it's going to affect the amount of service that the departments can provide. I think it's going to make a big difference."
Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said she also has concerns about some of the remaining cuts, particularly to some accounting positions.
"We really need to have people in there to get the bills out, to get the paychecks out, to keep the city running," she said.
Okino said that he hasn't analyzed all the proposed changes yet but believes there could be potential for layoffs, especially for positions that have been recently filled.
Kobayashi told her colleagues that if they have viable cuts, she will restore funding to areas of concern.
During an informational hearing yesterday, Council members also:
» Pushed to get rid of Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach because the city can't afford to spend the time and money on those programs.
"It's time to cut the funding for that completely because we are spending so much on those programs that are not reflected in those budgets," Councilwoman Barbara Marshall said.
Kobayashi, however, indicated that funding for one Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach a year likely will remain.
» Talked about funding for garbage collection and curbside recycling being restored, but they still have questions about the exact cost of a proposed curbside recycling program and also don't want to see the recycling contract go to a vendor with outstanding permitting and other problems.