Monrovia : Cost-Cutting Moves OKd

To avoid a projected $284,300 budget deficit, the City Council voted Tuesday to put a hiring freeze on several city positions and to cut back on equipment replacements in various departments.

Among the vacant positions that will not be filled are a police training officer, a jailer and a clerk matron in the Police Department, a management analyst in the community services department, and an administrative clerk in the library.

City Manager James E. Starbird said police patrol strength will not be affected by the freeze or the cutbacks, which include delaying replacement of police Teletype machines and jail cameras.

He attributed the budget shortfall to reduced revenue from building and zoning fees, lower interest earnings, and lower-than-expected recreation and facility use fees.