Tucson city manager calls for $31 million in cuts

TUCSON - City Manager Mike Hein has proposed major budget cuts and some fee increases to bridge a budget deficit that has grown to nearly $54 million.

The budget situation has grown so bad that Hein told the City Council on Wednesday that he'll no longer give budget estimates based on the budget the council approved in June.

Hein called for $31 million in immediate cuts and fee increases to balance the budget for this fiscal year that ends June 30.

Those cuts included $1 million for parks and recreation classes, the Tucson Convention Center and city golf programs.

Also proposed were a $3 million cut in funding to SunTran; $4 million in savings by cutting police academies; $1 million in postponed vehicle replacements; and a $160,000 cut to grant funds at city council offices.

The balance of the $31 million in cuts will come from $5 million in reserves, $2.5 million in increased court fees, $400,000 in increased impound fees, $2 million in deferred payments to the state and $5 million from the settlement of a lawsuit.

Hein called for much larger potential budget cuts next year.