Irvine : Police, Development Spending to Increase

Increased spending for police protection and development services will be included in a $42.7-million 1985-86 budget that has been unanimously approved by the City Council. However $1.8 million in proposed new positions will be trimmed from the budget, which becomes effective July 1.

The council Tuesday night directed the city management to eliminate 29 of 113 proposed new positions. Those cuts will come from all departments, and the $1.8 million will be set aside as general reserves.

The 1985-86 budget represents a 22% increase over Irvine’s current budget of $34.7 million. Projected 1985-86 revenues are $43.9 million, up 22% over 1984-85 revenues of $36.1 million. Development-related fees and increased sales tax revenues account for the bulk of the increase, City Budget Officer Leslie Keane said.

Irvine is expected to spend an additional 19% for police protection during the coming year, while development-related expenditures will grow by nearly 50%, Keane said.

After deciding on the weightier issues of the budget, the council Tuesday also approved a 4.2% increase in residential trash-removal fees.

Collected by the county through a special property tax assessment, trash service currently costs Irvine homeowners $59.40 a year. But beginning Monday, the fee will rise to $61.92.