Council members generally accepted the budget review in January and directed staff on what their preferences were for maintaining services, increasing programs and possible additional revenue streams.
Most council members agreed a slight increase in the local bed tax on hotel rooms could be administered since Santa Monica is below other nearby cities. However, it should remain lower than the competition, officials said.
“Perhaps we should position ourselves away from cities like the marina,” said Councilman Bob Holbrook.
If the tax was increased, it would have to be voter-approved, possibly this November. Some council members also said they’d be in favor of a “transportation impact fee” for developers and a sales tax hike. All of the council members would like to see more money go toward schools, but without a new revenue stream, more than the annual $3 million City Hall already gives to the local school district would be difficult to find.
The council also agreed that the afterschool playground hours which were cut last year to help close the $16 million shortfall should be brought back to normal levels. That was decided upon after dozens of parents lobbied the council at the February meeting to hire more staff to man the playgrounds.
“We’re happy to do it but we have to do it in the confines of a balanced budget,” said Mayor Richard Bloom.
Beyond the standard quality-of-life issues that the council supports like education, public transit and affordable housing, Bloom said he wants to focus on community health issues and developing programs that focus on crises like widespread obesity.
For Councilman Herb Katz, he’d like to see money put toward an under-staffed plan-ning department and a focus on addressing car dealerships’concerns that they say make life difficult to do business here.
“I think it should be prioritized,” he said, adding City Hall’s policies have not made it a business friendly environment for dealerships. “They provide sales tax to the city.”
Whatever happens with the budget, most councilmembers agree police and fire can’t be cut.
“I cannot compromise public safety,” Holbrook said. “I will not support reductions in those areas.”
Councilwoman Pam O’Connor agreed. “You have to have a safe home, a safe city and safe streets,” she said. “The core of municipal services has to remain.”
She warned that if more staff is added to the planning department as Katz suggested, there are still many uncertainties to the budget.
“Over two-thirds of the general fund goes to salaries and employees so we should be careful about adding staff,” O’Connor said.
Councilman Mike Feinstein said he’d like to prioritize more parking downtown — as would Councilman Ken Genser — as well as developing new movie theaters on or near the Third Street Promenade.
No doubt there will be difficult choices to make in the upcoming months for the council.
“With the federal, state and county governments slashing support, the city must step in on behalf of those Santa Monicans most in need,” said Councilman Kevin McKeown. “Scarce resources will have to be focused on programs that most affect residents’ lives. We must commit to maintaining the level of service for children, seniors and others who depend on local government the most.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 22, 2004. Read the original PDF.