AREA PROGRAMS FACE SEVERE CUTS.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

SAN FERNANDO - A host of community services - from family centers to a children's mariachi program - face funding cuts this year under a proposed budget being considered by the City Council.

Squeezed by cuts in state revenues and a potential lawsuit from a developer, city officials must shave a half-million dollars from last year's $16 million budget.

So far, they have proposed eliminating funds for community-based programs and their own travel budget, saving about $85,000. Some of the $415,000 in savings would come from leaving a number of vacant positions unfilled.

Though only a tiny fraction of the city's budget, the funds help several nonprofit organizations, which survive on shoestring budgets.

``It's going to hurt a lot of organizations that depend on this money,'' said Councilman Jose Hernandez. ``Nothing is final yet but things are not looking good.''

At the Valley Family Center, a nonprofit counseling center run by Catholic nuns, Sister Carmel Somers said the loss of $11,500 in city funding could force the center to turn away hundreds of people. The center logs about 900 visitors a year.

``The city is making a statement about what it supports,'' said Somers, the center's administrator. ``It's sad in a city like San Fernando, where the verbiage is about those people who aren't really well off as others.''

Last year, 15 community-based organizations, from domestic abuse centers to a children's swim team, received funding from the city.

Many of them are already reeling from state funding cuts caused by California's fiscal crisis, including the city-sponsored, Mariachi Master Apprentice Program.

Last year, the program lost $10,000 in grants from the California Arts Council, which itself saw its budget fall 93 percent. Now it faces another $7,500 in cuts from the city.

``We are going day-by-day to see what happens,'' said Virginia Diediker, program coordinator for the city. ``It just means I will have to work harder to find money.''

Despite a 6 percent rise in property taxes, the city couldn't cover $277,000 in funding lost to the state. Moreover, city officials are setting aside $250,000 for an anticipated lawsuit by the city's largest developer - Severyn Aszkenazy.

Aszkenazy, whose restaurant was denied an alcohol permit in April, alleges the city failed to hold proper hearings on his request. And though no lawsuit has been filed yet, R.J. Comer, an attorney for Aszkenazy, said they are moving forward. He declined to comment further.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com