Budgets, birthdays, goodbyes

The 2006-07 budget was revealed at the May 9 study session with only one member of the public present ? me. The total budget was at $205.9 million with a net budget of $191.6 million. It was further broken down into total revenue (all funds) at $188.9 million, total salaries and benefits at $104.3 million, and the capital improvement projects at $41.1 million.

Yes, the numbers are confusing and staggering, however, the city will be holding public hearings to get your input. The final budget will be adopted by July 1.

Our new budget welcomes 10 new employees, including three firefighter paramedics. Apparently, Fire Chief Tim Riley had asked for six, a number cut back to three by City Manager Homer Bludau. I asked how much the new positions would cost and was told they would get back to me since they did not have those numbers with them.

This was a very cursory glance at the budget. I did find it surprising that there was no request from the Police Department to add officers. I am sure we will be hearing more from the police and fire departments, since all departments will be making presentations to the City Council on their portion of the budget.

There are a few things I feel are important and were not mentioned.

No. 1 is an emergency warning and preparedness system. The city should have a state-of-the-art system that would incorporate flashing lights so that if there was an evacuation, we would know which streets would have all traffic leaving Balboa Peninsula.

No. 2 is a mass-calling system similar to the one used in Seal Beach. It can call up to 4,000 people at a time.

No. 3 would be a study of building an aquatic center up at Coyote Canyon Landfill. According to Councilman Tod Ridgeway, there is a 1.5-acre pad that could accommodate an Olympic-size pool. Now is the time to contact your council person. Let them know what you think and what you would like accomplished. Time is of the essence.

Happy birthday, Newport Beach! Get involved in the big birthday bash and become part of the next 100 years. McFadden Square will become home to a centennial memorial, which will provide the opportunity for residents and visitors to have their name engraved in history. Fundraising for this project will begin shortly and information will be posted on the centennial Web site at www.newport beach100.com, or call (949) 644-3157.

Unless there is an outcry from all of you to the Daily Pilot, this is my last Watchdog column; this is goodbye.

I want to give the biggest thank you possible to Tony Dodero, now general manager of Times Community News Online, for having the fortitude to offer me the column; to Tom Johnson, publisher, for going along with the plan; and to S.J. Cahn, editor, for having the wherewithal to keep the column going for as long as he did!

It has been an honor and a privilege to have had this column. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much I have enjoyed writing it. Stay happy, healthy and involved, and always cherish your right to vote.