Even though the council did not support a property-tax increase, it does plan to issue a judgment levy, which is a one-time assessment to compensate for lower revenue than the city anticipated last year. That levy — roughly $260,700 for the Main Library and $188,000 for debt service on bonds — would translate to about $3.41 on this year's property-tax bill for a $200,000 house. The city plans to hold a Truth in Taxation hearing Aug. 8, as required by state law.

The judgment levy will fill the city's smaller financial gaps without hitting residents year after year, said Jill Remington Love, a council member.

Elsewhere in the budget, the council voted 4-3 to make cuts to the golf program to bring the fund more money over the next few years for course improvements.

Five of 10 full-time golf groundskeepers and four of the five full-time starter positions will move to seasonal-only work. Council members Carlton Christensen, Nancy Saxton and Van Turner voted against the cuts. Love, S�ren Simonsen, Dave Buhler and Eric Jergensen voted for them. The council also raised greens fees at Forest Dale, Mountain Dell and Bonneville by between $1 and $1.50.

"I believe that this proposal that we have before us tonight allows us to move forward with the importance of marketing our courses, finding and establishing new markets," Jergensen said.

David Terry, the golf manager for the city, said that he was sorry to see the nine full-time positions go.

"I wish we could keep every full-time employee that we have and wish that every employee that we have in our operation would be full time," Terry said. "But the City Council recognizes that we are in a dilemma that we've got to do some things. It should enable us to keep the golf fund solvent, and there should be no question whatsoever that we will also be able to maintain our golf courses in quality conditions."

The City Council also paid $750,000 for part of a $3 million renovation of the old city library for The Leonardo. The city will give The Leonardo the money as long as the center raises another $2.25 million for the renovation.

The council paid for the first three months of operations for the Unity Center, which is supposed to open in spring 2007 before next fiscal year's budget talks. The center, a multicultural community center at approximately 900 West and 1400 South, was a trade with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the Main Street plaza in late 2002.

In addition, the city will establish a one-stop shop for planning and building permits after complaints about the slow process. The city also paid for one-half the salary of a downtown coordinator who will help businesses during the reconstruction of the downtown malls during the next few years. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce will pay for the other half of the position.

The council did not decide which capital-improvement projects it will pay for this year. That decision will come after specific talks during August or September, Buhler said. Anderson has requested $400,000 this year for Pioneer Park renovations, but several council members have been reluctant to pay for more than the $600,000 they appropriated last year.

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com