Westside : Santa Monica Is Picture of Financial Health

Let other cities and counties worry about bankruptcy court.

Santa Monica just passed a fat and sassy budget for 1995-96. It features more spending money, more cash reserves and more services than last year. There’s even an extra $7.4 million to set aside for a new police station.

How come?

The city manager said it’s prudent fiscal management--including cutting 100 city employees when times were tough a few years ago. Increasing tourism helps too.

But Councilwoman Ruth Ebner has her own idea about why the city’s financial picture is so rosy: Taxes.

Noting that the city by the sea’s high taxes on utility usage and parking fines, she said, “If you raise taxes when you need more money, you have more money.” . . .