THE ALREADY CASH STRAPPED CITY OF SANTA CRUZ COULD LOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS COLLECTED FOR WATER, TRASH COLLECTION, AND OTHER SERVICES. THE CITY BUDGET IS $720,000 SHORT OF MONEY, AND NOW FEES COLLECTED FOR SERVICES ARE BEING QUESTIONED BY CITY MANAGER DICK WILSON. CITY LEADERS HAVE ALREADY TRIMMED $7 MILLION, AND CUT 70 JOBS IN RECENT ATTEMPTS AT SOLVING BUDGET PROBLEMS. PROJECTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL DEFICITS ARE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. COUNCIL MEMBERS ED PORTER, CYNTHIA MATHEWS AND TONY MADRIGAL MAKE UP A BUDGET TASK FORCE WHICH IS LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE CAMPAIGN TO ASK VOTERS TO PASS A NEW UTILITY TAX.

SENATE BILL 235 AUTHORED BY STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM, THAT WOULD PUNISH THOSE WHO FAIL TO DISCLOSE THEIR HIV POSITIVE STATUS TO THEIR PARTNER, WAS HELD-OVER FOR TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. THE BILL WILL BE RE-HEARD IN THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AT A DATE TO BE DETERMINED LATER.

AAA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REPORTS MORE GAS PRICE INCREASES AS THEY RELEASE NUMBERS IN THEIR LATEST SURVEY. THE AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON IS UP 32 CENTS AROUND THE STATE. THE COST OF CRUDE OIL, WHICH IS THE RAW MATERIAL FROM WHICH GASOLINE IS MADE, HAS BEEN DROPPING STEADILY FROM RECENT RECORD HIGH PRICES. OUTPUT FROM CALIFORNIA REFINERIES, ONE KEY VARIABLE THAT CAN AFFECT CONSUMER GAS PRICES, IS REASONABLY GOOD, ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION. DESPITE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, NO RELIEF HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO THE GAS PUMPS WHERE MOST CONSUMERS FILL THEIR TANKS.

2 BILLS AUTHORED BY STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM HAVE PASSED THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. SENATE BILL 17 WOULD REQUIRE BLOOD ALCOHOL TESTING IN FATAL VEHICLE CRASHES PASSED. THE BILL WOULD STRENGTHEN CURRENT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE LAWS AND IS EXPECTED TO CUT DOWN ON REPEAT OFFENDERS. ALSO SENATE BILL 723 THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE STATE FROM PLACING SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS NEAR SCHOOLS PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 4-0. THE BILLS NEXT HEAD TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.