The Moorpark City Council has adopted a $73 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09, balancing the books partly by cutting funding for programs and reducing some positions to part- or half-time pay.

The council Wednesday night closed a shortfall of about $739,000 by various budget cuts, deferred maintenance and reserve money, ending with a general fund of $16.3 million and a surplus of $1,600.

"That's a very small cushion," City Manager Steve Keuny said.

"We've moved some money around and borrowed some money from the reserves," Councilman Keith Millhouse said. "We're hoping the state economy will improve, and we will eventually be able to enhance our bottom-line revenue."

Some of the positions affected by the reduced budget include reducing the Active Adult Center's part-time staff, saving $14,000; eliminating three of five crossing-guard positions, saving $15,000; and reducing the classification of four full-time recreation staff, saving $24,000.

The City Council also cut funds from some projects and equipment, including postponing Campus Park Drive landscaping enhancements, saving $76,000; deferring a kitchen upgrade at the Community Center, $26,000; eliminating the Home Town Holiday and Arbor Day events, saving a total of $4,700; postponing purchasing new City Hall flagpoles, saving $15,000; and postponing developing a youth master plan and tree master plan, saving $22,100.

The council also voted to add a new patrol deputy at 40 hours a week and budgeted $186,000, paid with money from the Traffic Safety Fund.

In addition, the council voted to contribute $20,000 to a fund to bring a community prosecutor to the east county. Simi Valley has committed $60,000, and the District Attorney's office said it will provide $52,000 a year for the next three years.

The general fund revenue decreased about $593,000, or about 4.5 percent less than in the previous fiscal year. The housing slump, higher energy prices and other effects of the slowing economy are reflected in the reduction of projected sales tax revenues.

In the coming year, new tenants are expected to fill the remaining spaces in Campus Plaza, Village at Moorpark, Warehouse Discount Center, Moorpark Grove, Tuscany Square and Mountain Meadows Plaza shopping centers.

However, some previously expected sales tax revenue will not be coming in since Home Depot has decided against building a new store in Moorpark. In addition, Linens 'n Things has entered bankruptcy proceedings and announced store closings nationwide, including the one in Moorpark.

An additional source of revenue may come from the Fairfield Inn Hotel, which may be completed by the end of the fiscal year in 2009. The hotel would provide an estimated $200,000 to $250,000 annually in property taxes.

To view the adopted budget, log on to http://www.ci.moorpark.ca.us.