Grappler thrills hometown crowd
Guitar Masters play Saturday in Poway
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POWAY DIGEST
REDEVELOPMENT LOSS FELT
City lays off five; eyes surplus use
Spring Street Fair Applications for the Poway Chamber of Commerce Spring Street Fair on April 15 are available on the chamber’s website, www. poway.com. Last year’s fair was a sellout so the chamber recommends participants reserve their spots early. For more details, call 858-748-0016 or email chamber@poway. com.
PHS concerts Poway High School band and orchestra prefestival concerts are 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29 and Thursday, March 1 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. Tickets are $5 for adults and will be sold at the door. Students get in free.
BY STEVE DREYER Adjusting to a world without redevelopment program revenues, city officials last week laid off five City Hall employees and on Tuesday night talked openly of having to use a special reserve fund to balance next year’s budget. Five workers who had direct ties to redevelopment work received word on Feb. 15 that their jobs would end March 1. Three of the positions cut were full-time: an assistant engineer in development services, a senior management analyst in community servicPLAY BALL! — Members of the Poway National Little League Sea Dogs run out onto the field es and the assistant director at Pomerado Elementary School as Opening Day ceremonies began Saturday morning. See of community services. Two story, another photo on page 28. Photo by Beverley Brooks positions were part-time: a senior management analyst in public works and senior management analyst in comThe proposed “Poway from Cunningham. City At- munity services. BY STEVE DREYER Pledge” was quickly en- torney Morgan Foley said In addition, City Manager Taking direct aim at dorsed by Councilwoman that Vaus’ idea will most Penny Riley said the city will Councilman Jim Cunning- Merrilee Boyack, who is likely be unconstitutional. not replace a senior planner Two weeks ago, while re- who is retiring this summer. ham, challenger Steve Vaus backing Vaus for one of the on Tuesday night proposed two seats up in the Novem- viewing a series of proposed This is the third time since that candidates running for ber general election. It was changes to the city election 2006 that Poway city employoffice in Poway be allowed to opposed by Mayor Don Hig- code, a majority of the coun- ees have been laid off, for a contribute only $100 to their ginson and was the subject cil agreed to leave in place a total of about 40 positions, or own campaigns. of some heated remarks SEE LIMIT, Page 21 20 percent of the 2006 work-
Vaus proposes $100 candidate spending limit
or Current Resident
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force. Previous rounds of layoffs were sparked largely by recession-related declining sales tax and property tax revenues. The Feb. 1 ending by the state of all local redevelopment programs means that Poway will loose $40 million in annual property tax revenues. The money will be transferred to the county, which must by May 1 establish local oversight boards to administer the redevelopment programs. Revenues will be redistributed to taxing agencies in the city, including schools and hospital districts. City officials say about $20 million will be returned to the city for payment of redevelopment bond obligations. Another $2 million or SEE BUDGET, Page 21
To our readers Our website, www. pomeradonews.com, will be off line for maintenance Saturday and Sunday. Breaking news and sports stories will be posted on Twitter and on our Facebook page.
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