San Juan's New Budget Says Farewell to Fireworks

Trails will be a bit more unruly, Ortega Highway a bit more soiled and the Independence Day fireworks show absent in San Juan Capistrano next year. 

As part of the slimmer budget adopted in a 4-1 vote Thursday by the City Council, funds for trail maintenance and buzzard dropping cleanup are reduced, and the Fourth of July display is cut entirely. 

The lion's share of the $21-million general fund—the main operating budget—will be . Mayor Sam Allevato said he'd like to see the proportion dwindle in the years to come.

Personnel costs are determined at the bargaining table with labor organizations that represent nearly all of San Juan Capistrano workers. "I'm sure there will be some adjustments" to the next round of employment contracts, Allevato said.

Taxpayers in San Juan will actually spend more on City Hall payroll by $64,000. Additionally, the .

City Councilman Derek Reeve's was the lone vote against approving the law enforcement contract. He called it a "protest vote," because he said he objects to Sheriff Sandra Hutchens' failure to renew concealed-weapon permits.

But Hutchens' stance on gun rights is a separate issue, Councilman Larry Kramer contended. "If we all voted 'no,' we wouldn't have any law enforcement in San Juan Capistrano."

The fiscal year 2011-12 budget curtails spending by 12 percent—a big portion is tied the —in the general fund. Having aimed for a 12.5 percent reduction upon taking his seat at the dais in November, Reeve said he was impressed by the cuts.

Councilwoman Laura Freese wasn't so much in awe. "Sometimes we tend to cut, cut, cut, chop, chop, chop," she said. She went on to explain that she forecasts revenues picking up next year with the addition of and the opening of a .

City staffers said they based the budget on conservative revenue projections. For example, they're only counting on collecting one month's worth of bed taxes from the Marriott, rather than from the four months it will be open during the fiscal year.

Reeve said he is disappointed that the rest of the council "Hopefully, we will see rockets' red glare in the future, one way or another. I’ll pull out a baseball cap and collect change if you want me to," he said.

The move is expected to save about $30,000.

Reeve also took issue with the city appropriating $78,000 to the and $25,000 to the . "I would prefer to use this money for the Sheriff's Department ... it would put more boots on the ground," he said.

The Public Works Department is taking a big hit, with nearly $155,000 in cuts. Some of the reductions include general trail maintenance ($20,000); buzzard dropping cleanup on Ortega Highway ($4,500); thistle abatement in open space areas ($40,000); sidewalk repairs citywide ($15,0000); and bike lane repaving ($25,000).

All of the council members did agree that they would like to start reviewing ledgers on a quarterly basis rather than semi-annually.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.