A 74.5-million dollar general fund was approved by city council members in Santa Cruz today. After a 6-percent drop from 2009 to 2010, revenues are expected to rise 1.2 million over last year due to projected increases in sales tax, fines and permits. The new plan, which represents a budget that is 5-percent smaller than it was 2 years ago, allows for expenditures which is said to leave an estimated 2.2 million dollar deficit that the council is looking to eradicate by using 1-million dollars in reserves along with cutting other costs. Some of the areas affected include cuts in social services including the county’s Conference and Visitors Council and the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County.
