NEWPORT BEACH : Police, Arts Cutbacks Criticized at Hearing

The city’s 1994-95 fiscal year budget, which calls for reductions in police and arts funding, was criticized at a public hearing this week.

The $60-million general fund budget calls for a variety of cutbacks designed to close a $3-million gap. The City Council is expected to take a final vote on the budget June 27.

City Manager Kevin J. Murphy’s budget calls for eliminating about 30 jobs, including eight in the Police Department. Most of the eight jobs are vacant, so no one in the department will be laid off.

The vacancies have reduced the number of patrol officers. Murphy said the budget would make those staffing reductions permanent.

At the hearing Monday, some residents opposed the police cuts, saying the city should increase funding to the department as a way of fighting crime.

The budget also calls for cuts in arts funding, from $44,000 to $25,000. Two years ago, the city spent $51,000 on arts, mostly in the form of grants to various organizations and artists.

On May 1, the city laid off six workers, including two in the Fire Department. Over the last three years, Newport Beach has cut a total of 90 positions, 22 of those from the Police Department.