Modesto 'finds' $4.5 million in extra savings

MODESTO -- Modesto has more than $4.5 million in general fund savings; this evening, council members will talk about what to do with the cash.

Officials discovered about $4 million in unexpected savings when the books were closed for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Also, recent employee concessions will ease general fund spending by $506,000 this year. The council will consider a proposal to move $1.75 million of savings from last year into a depleted workers compensation fund; the city would carry forward the rest of the surplus.

As for the $506,000 in employee concessions, $326,860 in proposed budget tweaks would restore some of the positions cut to balance the 2012-13 budget, including two police officers, a part-time finance program administrator and a part-time financial analyst.

Officials will consider options for the remaining $179,150.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in the basement chamber of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.