Roseville residents will begin to see a “new normal” as the city council passed its 2009-10 balanced budget at Wednesday’s meeting.

The forecasted budget for the upcoming year is set at $110.6 million, which is down $19 million from last year.

City staff reduced $12.5 million in travel, training, materials and early retirement incentives. The final $6.5 million came from layoffs and reductions in compensation among labor unions that began in May.

Currently Roseville is down 158 employees through defunded positions, layoffs and retirements. The most significant reductions in force have been concentrated in the public works, general government and community service departments said City Manager Craig Robinson at budget review meetings held earlier this month.

Robinson also said the 2011 fiscal year looks equally troubling as the city faces a potential $6-10 million shortfall again next year.

“These reductions were made for the long-term,” said Roseville Treasurer Russ Branson. “This is an opportunity to restructure the organization for a healthy future.”

While core services remain a priority for all city departments, the budget has required some programs to be scaled back or eliminated including reduced spending on community events and public safety materials.

Coinciding with drought conditions and a 20 percent water conservation policy, Mike Shellito, assistant city manager and Community Services director, said the grass will not be as lush as in years past.

Hours of operation have been reduced at the Maidu Interpretive Center and its sports center and at Johnson and Oakmont pools.

Several of the playground sites for drop-in day camps have been eliminated at three sites including Maidu, due to low attendance and limited staffing.

Operating hours at libraries remain the same and a reduction in hours is not anticipated, Shellito said. However, a $500,000 reduction in the libraries’ budget has reduced the budget for new books and replacing materials.

“The libraries are stretched. Attendance is up and circulation is up,” Shellito said. “But staffing remains the same, so there’s less people to deal with the increase.”

The public will begin to notice reduced spending in the community services department as early as the July 4 holiday.

Once driven by the city, the July 4 parade was recently organized and funded by Roseville businesses and community members. The celebration in Royer Park is still being carried out by the city, as well as the fireworks show at the Placer County Fairgrounds, but with a scaled-back budget. This year, only one fireworks show is scheduled and spending has been reduced from $12,000 to $4,000.

In public safety, while the front line staffing remains the same, funds for replacing tools and training has been slashed almost $3 million.

Public education courses including the smoke detector drive, children’s fire camp and school programs have been eliminated from the fire department’s budget.

Fire Chief Ken Wagner said the reduction in the budget has forced staff to use fire hoses beyond their useful life which were once on a regular schedule for replacement.

“The safety of the city is paramount, but with the budget we had to look at certain things and say, ‘there’s a risk here,’” Wagner said. “It’s very unfortunate.”