City tightens budget in wake of sluggish economy

The Thousand Oaks City Council has authorized a $4million reduction in the city's $84million budget due to a decrease in sales tax revenue.

The city's budget woes will affect capital improvement program projects, grants and special unfinished one-time projects.

These reductions will result in a freeze on 11 vacant positions including a heavy equipment operator, a landscape maintenance worker, a customer service representative, two librarians, a library aide, a senior planner, a community development technician and three custodians. The estimated savings is $1,093,000.

The city will also cut back on travel and training to save $175,000. A reduction in workers' compensation rates will save $411,000. A transfer of $100,000 to the Conejo Recreation and Open Space Endowment Fund will be postponed. The City Council will reduce printing, office supplies and support to save $20,000.

The city manager's office will save $75,000 by reducing such items as advertising and lobbying.

A reduction in the recognition of city employees will save $15,000. Training consultant reductions and other cutbacks will save $121,000 from the human resources department.

The finance department will reduce paper and postage to save $35,000 and cut back on electricity to save $74,000. A reduction in technology supplies will save $29,000.

The community development department will reduce supplies, equipment, printing, advertising and other items to save $90,000.

About $216,000 will come from community and cultural services. The department of public works will cut back $313,000. The library will reduce materials, equipment, supplies, maintenance and operations to save $236,000.

The police are giving back $541,000 because contract increases in their department were lower than expected, the finance director's report stated.

Trimming these funds will ensure the yearly budget that began on July 1 will be a balanced one, according to a report by finance director Candice Hong.

Hong said the state's budget deficit is a concern for the city and the local economy projections in the budget were about $4 million too high.