The Berkeley City Council\u2019s Budget and Finance Committee proposed budget cuts to city staff in the DEI division of the city manager\u2019s office, the police department and unhoused response programs, all in an effort to reduce the city\u2019s roughly $30 million deficit.<\/p>\n
The potential cuts could affect programs across the city, including a proposal to terminate city staff in the DEI division of the City Manager\u2019s office, according to David White, deputy city manager.<\/p>\n
In total, the budget proposal aims to reduce spending on citywide departments by 10.3%. Under the proposal, without the introduction of a tax, 100 vacant city staff positions and 38 filled positions would be cut. Currently, 70% of the general fund in Berkeley goes to staff positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith last year\u2019s budget and this year\u2019s budget, we would effectively be eliminating all the staff that were assigned to that division,\u201d White said. \u201cBut we will still continue to operate programs that are centered on equity \u2026 it will just be done at the department level. It won\u2019t be done through that division coordinating those efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to White, under the proposal, DEI programs like Healthy Black Families would continue but be housed under different departments.<\/p>\n
Some other programs facing possible cuts include civic arts, small business assistance and unhoused outreach.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the budget proposes to reduce police department staff; 15 police officers and six dispatchers would be maintained with one-time funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs it pertains to our work addressing homelessness, when you look at the totality of work that we do, we\u2019re proposing very limited reductions here,\u201d White said. \u201cSo really, the effort was to try to preserve as much as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Public commenters expressed concern over the budget proposal, including the suggestion of cutting programs to the Berkeley Waterfront.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first son was 3 days old the first time we visited the Berkeley waterfront; the improvements I\u2019ve watched over his 10 years here have been remarkable,\u201d said one public commenter. \u201cThey didn\u2019t happen by accident; they happened because someone on a team was doing the work. Don\u2019t stop now, you are right on the edge of what this place can become.\u201d<\/p>\n
White said the Budget and Finance Committee\u2019s main focus on building the budget was maintaining public safety.<\/p>\n
A significant amount of the proposed budget plan relies on the assumption that the Sales and Use Tax, an item that still has to be placed on the November ballot by the City Council, will be passed, according to White.<\/p>\n
This tax would bring in a new revenue stream of $9.4 million that could fund and save certain proposed cuts, lowering citywide cuts to 7% instead of 10.3%. For example, according to White, the budget proposes to close Fire Station 4, but if this tax is passed, the station would remain open.<\/p>\n