Residents voiced concerns over a wide range of potential cuts.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento leaders began debating deep budget cuts Tuesday to close a more than $66 million shortfall, weighing reductions across city services as residents urged officials to protect programs they rely on.

Some proposals include eliminating 46 full-time positions and 101 vacant full-time roles. Cuts to the police department could include eliminating the mounted patrol unit and discontinuing ShotSpotter technology except in the north area. The city said no sworn police officers or firefighters would be laid off, but many civilian support positions are at risk.

A city meeting lasting about four hours marked the start of what is expected to be an ongoing process, as council members consider cuts while the public pushes back on losing services.

Residents voiced concerns over a wide range of potential cuts, from limiting pool access to reducing public safety funding and scaling back programs aimed at preventing crime.

“Please don’t take away the funding. I promise you it will get better,” said one person who spoke during public comment.

At issue is whether to reduce pool days across the city, including at Southside Pool, which drew strong reaction from community members.

“Sacramento is a city that needs pools,” said another speaker.

Public safety funding also emerged as a priority for some speakers.

“Fund the police,” said an attendee.

“The city doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem,” said another attendee.

Others warned against cutting programs designed to prevent crime before it starts.

“When you make a choice, you are something about the future.”

“We cannot be closed as that would be devastating.”

One proposal on the chopping block is a $1.4 million Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force project, which partners with community-based organizations.

Mervin Brookins with Brother to Brother said the program works directly with students across the Twin Rivers district.

“We have been inside every school in Twin Rivers – junior high and high school – and we teach them the 10 reasons not to pick up a gun,” said Brookins.

Brookins said cutting the program could leave young people without support.

“A lot of youth that have come to depend on us and trust on us, they don’t have a place to go,” said Brookins. “And where are they going to turn to? The streets. And we all know what that leads to.”

Some council members signaled support for preserving certain services, including youth programs and pools.

“Pools are a lifeline for people,” said Sacramento Council Member Caity Maple.

Council Member Phil Pluckebaum urged colleagues to make difficult decisions as the city faces rising costs, economic uncertainty and a large pension liability.

“Set ourselves in a position where next year we are not back at this table having the same conversation about cuts,” said Pluckebaum.

As part of the broader budget discussion, Council Member Lisa Kaplan and Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes are pushing to restore school resource officers in Natomas Unified after the contract ended last year. Calls to bring the officers back have increased following a high school shooting in April.

Mayor Kevin McCarty is asking council members to outline what they want added to the budget and what they are willing to cut. Further discussion is expected next week.

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