City Seeking State’s Help on Road Work

The city has an ambitious, seven-year plan for improving streets and other facilities. Now it just needs mercy from the state.

For the first time since voters approved a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects under Measure M in 1990, the city’s public works budget has failed to provide the required contributing funds.

The state requires that the city contribute about $4.2 million to be eligible for about $600,000 to $900,000 in the special tax money.

But when the city passed its budget for the 1997-98 fiscal year, council members were able to allocate only about $3.8 million for public works projects, citing a citywide shortfall, Public Works Director Donald K. Jensen said.

“That [shortfall] was primarily as a result of declining revenues and depleted reserves and loss of money due to the Orange County bankruptcy,” Jensen said. “We simply did not have enough to allocate.”

In June, Jensen filed an appeal to the Orange County Transportation Authority, which administers Measure M funds, to ask that the requirements be waived for this year because of the city’s dire financial straits.

Meanwhile, the City Council last week unanimously approved a capital improvement projects budget, another Measure M requirement.

Major projects that might be delayed without the tax money include residential street resurfacing and the improvement of large intersections such as Beach and Artesia boulevards.

Officials are still waiting for a response on their appeal.

“We’re optimistic,” Jensen said.

“I think we have a good chance.”