Reduced AQMD Budget Approved; Cost-Cutting, 15 Layoffs Planned

The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s governing board Friday approved a $106.6-million budget for the pollution-fighting agency--smaller than last year’s budget, partly as a result of the recession. Because of cost-cutting, 15 full-time employees will be laid off.

The current budget is $113 million. However, because of revenue shortfalls the district has held spending to only $107.5 million.

Payroll spending will be cut by $3.5 million through salary reductions, early retirements and reduction of the number of student workers hired, the district said.

The board also approved a 3% increase, equal to the rise in the consumer price index, in fees paid by businesses that require air pollution control permits.

“This austere budget will make it difficult to reduce smog and carry out state and federally mandated clean air programs,” said James M. Lents, AQMD executive officer.

Lents attributed the agency’s decline in revenues to the recession and the AQMD’s success in reducing emissions. Industries pay fees for emissions; as emissions drop, so do agency revenues.