More than 400 people crammed City Hall and an adjacent outside courtyard Tuesday, as City Council wrestled with ways to slash $2 million from its annual budget.
In an attempt to produce permanent revenue enhancement, the City Council has agreed to go to ballot with a Fire Suppression District assessment which would ask property owners to tax themselves to achieve a balanced budget.
The Arcadia City Council made good Tuesday night on its pledge to not let the budget sit for another 6 months, making cuts which will total approximately $300,000 annually.
Tuesday's City Council meeting saw a 4-1 approval of a recommendation to direct staff to prepare to place a 2% utility tax on the ballot in April 1998.
The Arcadia City Council voted Tuesday night to keep television cameras away from its study sessions. Citing cost as the major factor, the vote was 4-1 with Councilman Sheng Chang dissenting.
The Arcadia City Council Tuesday night approved a 1982-83 budget of $16,894,463, slightly higher than that proposed originally by the staff, but lower than the 1981-82 budget. Most of the reductions came in the form of positions abolished and lay-off of staff.
In an informal, long-range planning session, City Council members made a new library and police station two of their top priorities. Last month, the council approves spending $55,000 to hire a consultant, to be chosen at the June 19th meeting, to draw up plans for a new library to replace the overcrowded library.