Feb. 16--ARLINGTON -- City Manager Jim Holgersson will outline $1.4 million in proposed budget cuts to City Council on Tuesday, including the elimination of 16 full-time jobs.

Arlington expects a $3.1 million shortfall in this year's budget because of declining sales taxes and other revenue, such as interest from investment income and residential and commercial developer fees. The City Council is not expected to take action on Holgersson's proposed budget cuts until March.

Five of the 16 eliminated jobs are filled, and the others are vacant, Holgersson said. The affected employees, including the neighborhood coordinator and a community services manager, will have their jobs until April 24. Duties of some of the vacant positions, such as the safety specialist who trains employees, could be outsourced. Others, such as the construction inspector for capital projects, could later be paid for by the federal stimulus package.

Holgersson's proposals also include cutting $140,000 in planned book purchases for libraries and eliminating $80,000 from the supplies budget and $150,000 from employee travel and training. The city could save $300,000 by buying a fire engine instead of a ladder truck and $200,000 by paying for street sweeping from the storm water fee collected on the water utility bill instead of from the general fund, he said.

The cuts are necessary largely because Arlington officials expect a $2.2 million decline in sales tax revenue from what they projected when the $198.5 million budget was adopted in September. The economy has also significantly affected the number of residential and commercial developments being built.

"It's certainly challenging times. We're not really sure how it's all going to impact us," Holgersson said.

Even with his newest proposed cuts, the city would still have a projected $1.7 million budget shortfall.

Just three months ago, the council eliminated 18 full-time positions, saving about $1 million. All the positions were vacant except for five health inspectors, whose duties inspecting restaurants and food vendors were outsourced to a private contractor this year.

Online: www.arlingtontx.gov/index_mayorandcouncil.html

In other business Gas well: Two public hearings regarding proposed gas well sites in north and southwest Arlington have been rescheduled to March 10. The Arlington City Council will not take action at Tuesday's meeting on the proposed gas well sites at 2500 N. Cooper St. or 5408 U.S. 287 because the city needs more time to advertise public hearings for those cases, which were both denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Titan Operating is asking for a specific-use permit to drill on a 3-acre tract, now a horse farm, in north Arlington. The company has obtained mineral rights leases for 2,300 properties in that area. Carrizo Oil & Gas is seeking a permit to drill on 4.8 acres off U.S. 287 near Treepoint Drive.

Rail crossings: The council is expected to vote Tuesday on a $1 million contract to bring three rail crossings on Randol Mill Road in the Great Southwest Industrial District up to the latest safety standards. That is required because the city is widening Randol Mill Road from four to six lanes between Great Southwest Parkway and Watson Road, said Stu Bauman, a civil engineer for the city. That $9 million bond-funded project, which also includes replacing sewer and water lines in that location, is expected to be complete by August.

SUSAN SCHROCK, 817-548-5475

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