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<\/p>\nThe city of Santa Ana is just $85 short of closing what started as a $13 million budget deficit. On the chopping block: after-school programming, park maintenance and more.<\/p>\n
The city manager\u2019s office presented another round of cuts to balance the budget at yesterday\u2019s City Council meeting. Officials reported that the current proposal avoids layoffs and furloughs. Most of the cuts will come from the Public Works Department at more than $3 million.<\/p>\n
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Santa Ana’s current budget proposal includes an estimated $85 deficit for the upcoming fiscal year.<\/p>\n
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Courtesy of the city of Santa Ana<\/p>\n
)<\/p>\n
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More on what\u2019s being cut\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Police Department is seeing a proposed $2 million in cuts, but could still be allocated $4 million more than last year, according to the budget draft.<\/p>\n
The city is looking to cut 20 vacant full-time positions and reduce part-time spending.<\/p>\n
Five non-mandated commissions will also be dissolved, including the youth, parks and recreation, and arts and culture commissions. The move will save the city nearly $28,000.<\/p>\n
Ambulance services will be cut down from a 24-hour unit to a 12-hour unit, saving $250,000, and fees will increase.<\/p>\n
Nearly every city department is seeing proposed cuts. Here\u2019s a breakdown:<\/p>\n
Public Works: $3,386,515Police: $2,213,390Planning and Building: $1,484,960Parks and Recreation: $1,155,010Community Development: $646,590Finance: $589,890Library: $465,390Human Resources: $292,770City Manager\u2019s Office: $279,810Fire: $250,000City Clerk: $40,010<\/p>\n
How did we get here?\u00a0<\/p>\n
At a City Council meeting earlier this month, officials reported that the city\u2019s revenue increased by 3% compared to last year, but spending is up 6%, with hikes in labor and pension\/liability costs.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the deal with youth programming?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League, also known as PAAL, costs the city more than $877,000, about 80% of which goes toward salaries for its current fiscal budget.<\/p>\n
PAAL costs the city about $5,400 per child, compared to youth programs run by the Parks and Recreation Department, which cost about $100 per kid.<\/p>\n
PAAL\u2019s after-school and summer programs serve 87 children, and more than 200 are mentored and coached through its sports programming. The program\u2019s budget will be slashed by about half.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez said this move should not be seen as a cut to youth services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough this new proposed recommendation, we\u2019ll reinstate exercise instruction at four different elementary schools, and we will increase the services from 228 children to 2,200 children,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cWe are not cutting youth services, we’re actually adding youth services while saving money for our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Valerie Amezcua said the library and parks departments can do the same programs, but not the way PAAL does.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to make sure whatever cuts we’re making, that we continue to include our Police Department. To me, that’s very important for the public trust,\u201d Amezcua said.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The city isn\u2019t completely in the clear when it comes to its finances. Measure X, a voter-approved sales tax, will be reduced in 2029, resulting in the loss of at least $30 million in annual revenue before completely expiring in 2039. The City Council, aside from Councilmembers David Penaloza and Jessie Lopez, has supported asking voters <\/a>if the tax should be made permanent.<\/p>\n