It’s no secret.
Times are tough and local economies continue to suffer throughout the state. So as cities go on with shrinking budgets, more and more cuts are becoming the norm. Here’s a quick rundown of how cities are managing cutbacks:
- A new look for the city of San Francisco, widely known as a city that has acted as a haven of social services programs. The city’s $438 million shortfall will mean large cutbacks to antipoverty programs. It’s a tough equation. As more and more people fall into financial trouble and need the help, the less the city can offer.
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will have to close a half-billion-dollar gap in the Los Angeles budget. The problem gets political. How does he make fair cuts in the public sector while maintaining the support of the public sector unions that supports his campaigns. A run at governor would certainly require their help.
- San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is using money from one-time funds to close a budget gap of $60 million in his city. Like many other cities are doing, Sanders is cutting more through public labor concessions.
- Fire and police seem to be targets in many cities to help bridge budget gaps. In the city of Clovis, the city plans to cut jobs to repair a $5.3 million hole in the new budget year. In addition, the city will cut from road and park maintenance, recreation and senior services.
- The now $83 million shortfall in Oakland’s budget is growing and the city is going to have to start making cuts, according to the blog of Robert Gammon of the East Bay Express. Gammon makes a good point: Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and the city council has to step up to unions and ask for concessions to save jobs.