NEWPORT BEACH
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City Council members Monday night approved spending $1.25 million in money not included in this year’s budget to support turning the former El Toro Marine base into a commercial airport.
In order to award the grants to two pro-airport activist groups, council members agreed to reduce the city’s operating expenses by $350,000, use about $450,000 in anticipated bankruptcy recovery disbursements and use $450,000 in projected extra revenue.
The grants will be divided between Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, which will get $750,000, and the Airport Working Group, which will get $500,000. The money will be used to distribute information throughout Orange County on the benefits of building an airport at El Toro, said Councilman Dennis O’Neil.
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