Seal Beach : Budget Balanced at at Reserves’ Expense

The City Council adopted a balanced budget of $17.1 million this week, but city officials said reserves are seriously depleted.

To offset a shortfall of about $800,000, city staff and council members have pared the budgets of many departments. In addition, the City Council plans to consider a variety of fee increases in the next few months.

“This was a hairy budget,” said Councilwoman Gwen Forsythe, echoing comments of other council members. “We’re going to have to cut some services. We’re going to have to raise some services. The community will have to pull together.”

The budget cuts include the elimination of several positions through attrition and the reorganization of some departments. Both the finance director and public works director positions are vacant and will not be filled until City Manager Jerry Bankston re-evaluates the departments.

The budget was criticized by resident Bruce Stark, who said the city pays too much for legal expenses.

“I’d say the biggest item, the absolute biggest item that’s eating us alive, are attorney fees,” Stark said. “If you want to save some money, I’d say let’s bring some accountability to this area.”

In addition to a special attorney for the Police Department, the redevelopment agency and for liability claims, Seal Beach contracts with the Los Angeles law firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon.

Last year, the city budgeted $168,000 for legal fees, but records show that as of May the city had paid the firm $321,000 for legal expenses. The city has budgeted $235,000 for legal fees in the coming year.

Mayor Frank Laszlo said he would like to look at the possibility of eliminating a special attorney for the police department but City Atty. Quinn Barrow said that the service is necessary in some instances.