MOORPARK : Budget to Expand Some City Services

The Moorpark City Council has approved a budget that expands some city services, despite the state budget crisis and the recession.

In the 1991-92 budget that was passed Wednesday, $150,000 was set aside for renovating the community center and $40,000 for starting a youth services program. The city also reserved $49,000 for expanding City Hall and $75,000 for setting up a paramedics program.

Moorpark will fund new programs even though the city must pay about $80,000 next year for the county to book prisoners into jail and collect property taxes. It will lose an additional $107,000 if the state begins withholding a portion of vehicle license fees and court fines.

Also, because of the recession, developers’ fees have fallen from $1 million last year to an expected $580,000.

The reductions were largely offset by previous years’ excess taxes and a one-time $100,000 payment from the Community College District related to the city’s taking over its own cable TV programming. Total revenues next year are expected to be about $3.8 million, compared with $3.9 million in 1990-91.

The city also raised the annual parks assessment fee from $27 to $32.11 per household. The city’s six department heads will get 4% raises, and other salaried employees 5%.