Mayor applies budgetary tourniquet, proposes cuts to police, fire and libraries to stop gushing red ink

Mayor Jerry Sanders held a press conference this afternoon to announce the budget cuts he’s proposing that the City Council make to fill the $43 million mid-year budget hole. The mayor and his staff spent the last three weeks trying to find ways to balance the budget in light of the economic collapse. The cuts he’s proposing would add up to $50 million annually, but are actually less because they come in the middle of the fiscal year. Even with the cuts, the city will still face an expected $34 million deficit in 2010, and the mayor said he plans to spend the next six months trying to think of more creative solutions for the long term, that could conceivably include a four-day work week to save energy or increases in some city fees.

The current deficit stems from dramatic drops in tax receipts this year. The city’s property-tax revenues are down $14.5 million, sales taxes by $5.7 million, tourism taxes by $8 million, and franchise fees by $1 million.

The immediate cuts he’s proposing include slicing the police and fire academy classes in half, closing seven libraries, nine recreation centers, and one gym. He also proposes to cut 216 positions from the city rolls, 114 of which are currently filled. Among those will be four deputy chief operating officers. The mayor will also be closing down the Customer Service Department with its six locations. (More details on the cuts, including the list of which libraries and rec centers are after the jump.) The mayor has also asked the City Attorney, the City Clerk, and the City Council to reduce expenditures by 10 percent.

Sanders emphasized that the cuts are a proposal that the City Council must approve. The full report is supposedly online, and I’ll link to it once I find it.

The following proposed cuts are just highlights form a longer report the mayor prepared that details the reason for the budget deficit and the proposed cuts and revenue increases.

Fire-Rescue Department

Budget cut: $4 million

Positions cut: 9

They will be reducing the number of annual academy classes from two to one. Also, they will reduce the number of fire teams at two-truck stations from 60 to 58. They will be rotating which stations have one less team.

Police Department

Budget cut: $8.3 million

Position cuts: 35 vacant civilian positions

Reducing the size of the police academy from 50 to 25. Swing the rate of equipment replacement so long as it doesn’t compromise police safety.

Libraries

Budget reduced: $2 million

Positions eliminated: 33.81

The mayor will be closing seven libraries, one in every Council District besides CD8. The city will hold onto the buildings, and Sanders is considering housing city workers there to save on rent at other offices.

Slated to be closed: University Community (CD1), Ocean Beach (CD2), University heights (CD3), Mountain View/Beckworth (CD4), Carmel Mountain Ranch (CD5), Clairemont (CD6), and Allied Gardens/Benjamin (CD7)

Park & Recreation Department

Budget Reduced $2.2 million

Value of increased fees: $748,000

Positions eliminated: 49.75

Penn (CD4), Adams (CD3), Azalea (CD3), cabrillo (CD6), Stockton (CD8), Presidio (CD2), Lopez Ridge (CD5), Cadman (CD6), Tecolote (CD6), and Black Mountain Gym (CD1)