Mayor signs budget without veto

By Paul Eakins on September 22, 2009 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Mayor Bob Foster's office confirmed today that he has signed the budget approved by the City Council last week without using his line-item veto. Tonight, the council is expected to give final approval to the $2.5 billion budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

In approving the budget, Foster didn't dispute the council's restoration of $169,000 in city contributions for the operating costs of the Long Beach Museum of Art. Foster had recommended eliminating the entire $569,000 city contribution after the museum wasn't able to pay off $3 million in bond debt this month, which the city then had to cover.

The council meets at 5 p.m. tonight. Watch the meeting online at www.longbeach.gov.

Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Telegram, he previously has covered local and state government and politics in San Diego County, Mexico and his home state of Kansas.

E-mail Paul at paul.eakins@presstelegram.com.

Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port. He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”, appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.

E-mail Kris at kristopher.hanson@
presstelegram.com.

Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Telegram in April 2002 as a beat reporter, covering the cities of Lakewood, Bellflower and Paramount. She now covers business, specifically redevelopment, tourism and small businesses. She also writes Eye on Redevelopment, a monthly column that appears in the Business Monday section.