Next year’s fiscal budget was passed in Scotts Valley last night. City leaders expect to continue the cuts made last year, such as existing work furloughs and hiring freezes, however the city council was considering whether to give $5,000 requested by United Way of Santa Cruz County to help fund a countywide 2-1-1 hotline, a clearinghouse for social services. Council members agreed on a 4-to-1 vote to give $1,200 to the service, which is slated to start this summer. The city’s 6.7-million dollar budget is a slight increase over last year, and is the last for Measure C, a quarter-cent sales tax that is expected to bring in about $500,000 for the city’s general fund.
