Whittier : Budget Cuts, Hiring Freeze Ordered in Face of Shortfall

The City Council enacted a round of budget cuts and a hiring freeze Tuesday to make up for an anticipated $1.2-million shortfall in revenue. “This is big for us,” City Manager Thomas Mauk told Whittier councilmen.

All city departments have been ordered to slash budgets by 1.5%. Seven vacant positions, ranging from a tree trimmer in the Parks Department to the top post in the Controller’s Department, will not be filled this year. Residents may also see capital improvement programs stalled as the city attempts to balance its budget, Mauk said.

Mauk said the 1990-91 budget anticipated the collection of $7.9 million in sales tax. City officials now say they will be lucky to collect $6.9 million. They blame the decline in sales tax revenue on the recession. Mauk said that cutbacks now may save the city from further reductions in programs when it prepares the 1991-92 budget.