The costs of burying the dead, playing golf and, for city employees, driving a city car home are going up in Salt Lake City, but baseball may find a new home in Salt Lake City.

In a 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the Salt Lake City Council approved the $354 million 1992-93 budget after they were divided over proposals to increase golf fees and charge police officers and other employees for commuting in city-owned cars. Council members Roselyn Kirk, Ron Whitehead and Alan Hardman squared off against Tom Godfrey, Nancy Pace, Paul Hutchinson and Don Hale in the final tally.At the beginning of the meeting, police officers and golfers spoke out against the two controversial proposals.

David Greer, president of the Salt Lake Police Association, chided Corradini and the City Council for balancing the budget "on the backs of your police officers."

He particularly was upset with a decision to charge officers $15 per month for taking their squad cars home at night. The cost rises to $30 for officers who live outside city limits. Greer said officers will leave their cars at work, instead.

"You will not get the money you're counting on," he told the council. He also threatened a lawsuit by the police union, claiming

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the fees violate the police officers' contract.

"You have finally found a way to hire four new officers," he said, noting the council hopes the fees, which will be charged to all city employees who use city vehicles, will generate enough money to expand the police force.

"Maybe you could hire 20 officers by having us pay for the use of our handguns."

In the end, the city passed the car fee with a 5-2 vote, but the motion by Councilman Paul Hutchinson left a gaping loophole that wouldn't force anyone to drive their cars home. Because police and other employees are expected to refuse to take their vehicles home because of the fee, $133,400 in expected new revenue could be reduced.

In addition to four officers funded through the commuting fee, the city budget provided for another three officers because of a last-minute $67,500 windfall from a lower interest on a tax anticipation note.

Golfers opposed the fee increases, objecting to the plan that would make golfers pay for other recreation programs.

"I don't believe its good for golf in Salt Lake City," Whitehead said.

Godfrey disagreed. "Half of the golfers on our courses are not from Salt Lake City. We need to get people contributing to the city," he said.

The general fund, which contains most of the city's primary budgets, will increase from $87.1 million last year to $91 million in 92-93. By comparison, the general fund expenditure was $79.7 million in 1988.

The council did stray from the mayor's proposed budget by restoring $84,520 to fund the Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau and a $38,438 wage for an Arts Council position. The council will also wait to take action on a $75,000 general fund contingency that was earmarked for pay raises for executives and elected officials. The decision to release the funds will be based on a salary study that has yet to be completed.

Fees at the city cemetery will increase by nearly half, depending on the type of marker, making it the most expensive cemetery in Salt Lake County.

The council did take action to fund a new baseball stadium to replace Derks Field. Location of the facility is undecided after the City Council rejected a proposal to build it at Pioneer Park Tuesday night.

The City Council also approved a $6.6 million city library budget during its meeting.

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Who pays

How the budget affects residents and city employees:

-Golf fee increase. For weekend golfers, the price at the city's Bonneville, Mountain Dell and Wingpointe courses will be $17 to play 18 holes. Other golf-course fees will also raise. Weekday rates will be $7 for nine holes.

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-Commuting fees. City employees who choose to drive city vehicles home will have to pay $15 per month if they live in Salt Lake City or $30 if they live elsewhere.

-Burial fees up. Fees at the city cemetery will raise from $600 to $825 or $900, depending on the type of marker, making it the most expensive cemetery in Salt Lake County.

-Job loss. Elimination of 69 city jobs. Half those are currently vacant. The city will try to help employees find other jobs in departments were employees have quite or retired.

-Baseball. The council approved a $20 million bond that will be used to fix streets and sidewalks and build a new stadium to replace Derks Field.

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