Ojai : 4.5% Raise OKd for City Employees

Ojai has adopted a $5.8-million budget that gives city employees a 4.5% cost-of-living increase without any layoffs, service cutbacks or new taxes.

City Manager Andrew Belknap said Ojai is facing an uncertain year under state and county budget constraints, but careful planning has left it with strong reserves and a balanced budget for the 1991-92 fiscal year.

By adopting a conservative budget last year, Ojai can survive a two-year slowdown in sales tax revenues, Belknap told the City Council this week.

The council unanimously adopted the new budget, which also provides for a new roof, telephone and computer systems and remodeling of work stations at City Hall, a former private house.

Belknap said projected revenues cannot fulfill his request for an assistant city manager’s position.