This new budget is a balancing act. One that needs to bridge a $246 million dollar deficit. In order to get there, the city will withdraw half of the general fund reserve and reduce funding for capital projects.
Cuts will be made to street repair, curb ramp installation, behavioral health services for transitional youth, child care subsidies and Fire Deptartment purchases.
The city’s Police Department was spared any budget cuts, despite growing calls from protestors to be defunded.
Los Angeles, by comparison has already introduced a resolution to slash police funding by up to $150 million following the police involved killing of George Floyd.
Officials say many more hard decisions remain. And that’s because the current year’s budget was balanced mostly with “one-time” use funds. Looking forward, the city will still face a $1.5 billion deficit from the economic impacts of covid-19.
City departments have until June 12 to adjust to the cuts and submit their budget proposals to the mayor.
