ORANGE : Budget Cuts Spark Residents’ Protests

More than 200 residents packed the City Council chambers this week for an often acrimonious public hearing on the city’s proposed fiscal year 1993-94 budget, which includes the possible imposition of a 4.5% utility tax as well as cuts in fire and library services.

Residents demanding a leaner government were pitted Tuesday night against residents asking that the fire and library departments be spared cuts.

The proposed $49-million budget is a decrease of 9% from the 1992-93 budget. Moreover, it contains a number of new taxes, including a 4.5% utility tax that city officials hope will raise more than $500,000 in the upcoming year.

The city of Orange has made numerous budget cutbacks over the past year, including the layoffs of more than 70 city employees, a furlough plan that cut worker pay by 10% and shutting down City Hall on Fridays.

The new budget contains plans to close the Santiago Hills library branch as well as reductions in Fire Department personnel and cutbacks in its paramedic and brush-fire divisions.