Briefly in the news

Several items in Orange County’s $4.6-billion budget, which was

unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, are likely

to benefit Newport-Mesa.

The budget, approved during a rare evening meeting, includes $1.6

million for watershed and ocean monitoring.

County funding will also help pay for a new marine research laboratory

on Shellmaker Island. The county is providing $1.2 million in tobacco

settlement money to the project. Newport Beach has pledged to match that

amount.

Later this year, the county will replace the temporary water-quality

trailer at the island with another temporary building until the permanent

water lab can be built in 2003.

The county’s money will pay for the building, computers and lab

equipment. The county has also hired a full-time microbiologist and

research assistant. Their salaries are separate from the county’s pool of

money.

The county’s budget covers the financial year from July 1 to June 30,

2002. Last year’s budget came in at $4.51 billion.