For some time, we’ve all been well-aware that the City of Long Beach is strapped for cash. These past few days have finally brought action, however, and the news has been bleak for City employees and departments. The City Council recently voted to approve unpaid employee furloughs and will close City Hall on the final Friday of each month. But that is just the beginning.
City Manager Pat West’s proposed plan to balance a $43 million deficit include two methods of cuts:
A) $23 million reduction in employee compensation and benefits
B) $20.3 million in reduction to City department budgets.
Under Method B, there are two scenarios. One includes cuts to Police and Fire while the other prepares for the possibility of the City Council opting to exempt those departments. Needless to say, not including Police and Fire will force the other City departments who are not up for possible exemption to make even more drastic cuts. In fact, their required cuts will triple, from 6% of their total budgets to 18%. Let’s take a look at some of the services that the City stands to lose, if Police and Fire are not exempted from cuts.
Public Works: $1.7M reduction
This reduction is outlined in the City Manager’s proposed budget as the elimination of 15 vacant engineering, construction and traffic positions.
Libraries: $750k reduction
To make up for their required reduction of $750,000, Long Beach libraries will lose 18 staff positions and reduce hours at all twelve Family Learning Centers in the city. Those positions include librarians, clerks and administration.
Parks: $1.4M reduction
The Parks & Recreation department will be asked to lose $1.4 million of its budget, which amounts to the elimination of an undisclosed number of clerical staff, along with reduced maintenance of Blair Field, higher golfing fees and new fees for park use.
Others: $2.45M reductions
These miscellaneous losses include six positions that will be lost at Animal Care Services, the elimination of a Homeless Program case manager and a reduced vector control budget, according to West’s proposed budget.
In reality, these are best-case scenarios. If the Council decides to exempt Police and Fire, the cuts to the departments listed above will be far worse.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor