After the certification of the November election results the new configuration of the City Council was immediately confronted with angered residents concerned about possible fee increases and budget cuts that are almost certainly on the horizon due to the recession.</p><p>Many volunteers with the city's Police Activities League program complained about plans to raise costs on PAL for use of its facilities. The increase could total $6,800 per season, according to PAL representatives. The figure is the amount the city pays to maintain its facilities for use by sports groups. </p><p>"We have always felt that affordability was essential to the success of this program," Los Ba&#241;os resident Marci Fahey said. "With the charge of $1,600 being implemented on the PAL Softball program the PAL program will be forced to increase its participation fees dramatically or even risk obsolescence."</p><p>Fahey said 1,000 children, including 350 girls, participate in PAL. Other parents suggested PAL was being singled out and groups such as senior citizens were not being asked to pay increased fees.</p><p>Councilman Mike Villalta said council members need to keep their campaign promises. </p><p>"We're going to need to take a good hard look at the budget, but we all said that youth was No. one," Villalta said. "We're going to have to balance our budget but it shouldn't be at the expense of the youth of Los Ba&#241;os."</p><p>Mayor Tommy Jones said the recession is a "global problem" and sacrifices need to be made.</p><p>"We're going to have to ask people to step up and do more than you've done in the past. We're going to ask everyone to make a sacrifice, not some, everyone," he said. "We're not going to point fingers. We're going to deal with reality."</p><p>Jones professed his commitment to the youth of Los Ba&#241;os and invited the public to attend a workshop being held Dec. 16 regarding emergency cuts to the city's budget.</p><p>Los Ba&#241;os resident Caryn Cox expressed dismay that the city has chosen acommittee to look at the budget that does not include business people. She also spoke against the possibility of laying off people working at the police department.</p><p>"I am amazed at how much money is spent each month that can be cut or reduced drastically," Cox said of her review of the city budget. "Turn to the source of the problem first before you risk the lives of the city of Los Ba&#241;os by cutting our police department."</p><p>With state takeaways being a possibility in the next fiscal year, a steep decline in sales tax and an estimated 2,400 homes in foreclosure, Los Ba&#241;os officials are desperate to cut costs.</p><p>Showing his willingness to sacrifice, City Manager Steve Rath postponed his annual job performance review and agreed to give 8 percent of his monthly retirement contribution to the city beginning next year. The move will save Los Ba&#241;os $12,720 per year.</p><p>The City Council also took care of some house-keeping concerns Wednesday. Councilman Joe Sousa was named mayor pro tem for the second year. Councilwoman Elizabeth Stone will assist the mayor in making upcoming committee appointments. And Councilman Tom Faria will continue on the Los Ba&#241;os economic development task force.