Beverly Hills : Groups’ Funding Renewed

The City Council, faced with an uncertain financial picture, voted to renew funding to charitable groups for 1992-93 at nearly the same level as last year.

During a study session, the council heard requests from eight groups, including the Beverly Hills Family YMCA, the Beverly Hills Symphony, the Maple Center and Beverly Hills TV, a community-access station.

The council gave preliminary approval to fund the eight groups with $313,105 from its proposed $75-million general-fund budget.

The council will continue deliberating on the city budget at a supplemental meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday and is expected to adopt its 1992-93 budget. At the meeting, the council will also hear funding requests from the Beverly Hills Visitors & Convention Bureau. The city staff has recommended $579,000 in funding, the same amount as in the fiscal year that ends Tuesday.

The city had projected a surplus of $207,000 for the next fiscal year, but the city now stands to lose as much as $2 million in state funds as the Legislature looks for ways to balance the state’s budget.

Mayor Robert Tanenbaum and City Manager Mark Scott recommended the council move ahead before July 1 to adopt a city budget of $75 million, slightly less than last year’s $76-million budget. The council would revise it later if need be when the state has adopted its budget.