This week, the City Council in Chico approved a plan by city manager Brian Nakamura to restructure its government organization, reducing the number of departments from 10 to just five. The 4-3 vote doesn’t accurately reflect the unanimous support for consolidation – three members voted no because a sixth department wasn’t included.

The plan will likely mean that seven department heads will lose their jobs, however, and the 30 to 45 day timeline means the city will have to move quickly. But Nakamura estimates that the reorganization could result in as much as $1 million per year in savings.

The five new departments will be: administrative services, community development, public works, police and fire. Three members on the council wanted the city to create a community enhancement department.

Read the full story at the Oroville Mercury-Register.