BALANCED BUDGET APPROVED.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

The City Council has adopted a balanced general fund budget of $7 million for fiscal 1999-2000 that includes $35,000 in cost-of-living adjustments for workers and $5,000 for stepped-up enforcement of dog-leash laws.

In addition, the council signed off on posting a police officer permanently at Moorpark High School beginning in the fall.

The city had faced a budget deficit of $800,000 before property owners last week approved taxing themselves about $39 each per year to pay for upkeep and improvement of the city's 14 parks, city officials said. That special parks assessment district will bring in $447,184 for the coming year.

``It's gratifying once again to have a balanced budget that I believe achieves many of the goals that have been set by the city,'' said Councilman Chris Evans.

Under the budget, city officials said some 42 city employees, including secretaries and clerks, will get a 2 percent cost of living raise in the coming year, the first part of a five-year contract negotiated with the Service Employees International Union, which represents the workers.

Evans said this was the first time in the city's history that a five-year contract had been negotiated with the workers and that in the past, the contracts have been for one to two years.

Because of approval of the parks assessment district, the 5-acre Monte Vista Nature Park on Spring Road will be reopened, and the city's July 3 fireworks event will be held again in 2000.