Costa Mesa has made headlines recently for its decision to move forward with the preliminary steps of outsourcing many city services, the public resignation of the police chief, and the death of a city worker – ruled to be suicide.

But the city has balanced its budget after much heated debate. The $114 million budget did include layoffs, and the police department wasn’t immune. Active officer rolls will decrease from 139 to 131.

The budget cut to the police force equaled 3.5 percent of the department’s budget, according to the city manager.

From the Orange County Register:

The City Council approved a balanced $114.9 million overall budget early Wednesday morning on a 4-1 vote after hours of heated discussion in a packed room.

To reduce annual costs by around $1.2 million, the council decided to reduce the number of active officers in the Police Department to 131 from 139, which could require four or five layoff notices, once upcoming retirements are factored in.

Read the full article here.