Patching the smallest deficit in years, City Council members unanimously passed a $93 million general fund budget Tuesday.

City officials were faced with $1.1 million deficit until they became aware of $350,000 in unexpected city employee health care savings recently, reducing the deficit to $750,000. Other savings in the approved budget include $600,000 in concessions from four employee groups, though only one has finished negotiations.

New energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning in city buildings saved $91,000 on the city's PG&E bill, while another $100,000 in savings came from the consolidation of fire and police administration to form a new "Fire and Police Support Services Division."

City Manager Dan Rich said he plans to use some of the savings to replenish reserves spent to balance the budget during the recession.

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