SV council considers budget cuts tonight

Tonight, the Scotts Valley City Council will consider making cuts to the city budget -including layoffs and furlough – to shrink an annual deficit brought on by tough economic conditions and the 2011 expiration of the Measure C sales tax.
Tonight’s council meeting will address how City Manager Steve Ando proposes to dramatically reduce the city’s $8.3 million budget.
During the August 19 council meeting, the council directed city staff to look into cutting the city’s budget by at least $400,000.
Ando’s suggestions for tonight include a once-a-month furlough for all city workers except police officers, dispatchers and the senior recreation site director. Four city staff positions will also be on the cutting board.
In all, Ando’s recommendations will chop the city’s budget by $442,000 in an attempt to borrow a few years time before the city runs down its reserves.
The city will receive about $530,000 from Measure C sales tax money this year, but once the ¼-cent sales tax expires in March 2011, the city will face annual deficits in the $1.1 million range.
Also on tonight’s agenda is the consideration of a $667,510 architectural contract to remodel the Scotts Valley Sports Center for the new library facility on Kings Village Road.
There were 29 applicants for the contract and city staff recommends San Francisco-based Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning Inc. for the contract.
AT A GLANCE:
WHAT: Scotts Valley City Council Meeting
WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2
WHERE: Scotts Valley City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive
DETAILS: The meeting is open to the public.