Culver City OKs Balanced Budget, Increased Fees

The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously approved a $44.4-million budget that includes increases in sewage and refuse-collection fees for the 1987-88 fiscal year, which began Wednesday.

Sewage fees will rise more than 26% from $42.15 to $53.20 to offset increased charges by the City of Los Angeles for use of its sewage system, according to Roger Mansfield, assistant chief administrative officer for budget and finance.

Refuse collection rates will jump 11% from $7.16 a month for each home to $8 a month to reflect the rising cost of landfill dumping fees, Mansfield said. Commercial rates will rise about 10%.

The tax on non-residential gas and electric bills will rise from 9.5% to 10.5% and the hotel room tax will rise from 8% to 9%.

The council achieved its stated goal of balancing the budget without laying off employees or establishing any new fees or taxes. About $1.1 million was shaved from the budgets of city departments.

The council also approved the formation of a benefit assessment district, designed to raise $2 million a year for services such as street sweeping, lighting and park maintenance, but did not establish any fees for the district during the fiscal year.