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It's budget time at San Jose City Hall and this year's budget deficit, while less than anticipated, is $35.9 million. At the San Jose City Council meeting on March 21, council members voted 8-3 to direct the city manager to submit a balanced budget, as guided by the priorities outlined in Mayor Ron Gonzales' March budget message.
City Councilmen Dave Cortese, Chuck Reed and Ken Yeager voted against the directive.
The three were concerned about the proposed cut of up to 2 percent for public safety services. A 2 percent cut in public safety services amounts to nearly $8 million.
"There's no way I can imagine cutting $6 million to $8 million without getting into essential services," Cortese said.
Yeager had similar concerns.
"Given the action that council took at the last budget session, with no cuts to fire staff or stations, how are you going forward with public safety cuts of up to 2 percent?" he asked City Manager Les White.
White responded that one of the items on the block is the hose wagon, a 1950s firetruck designed only to carry the hose. It is currently at Willow Glen Fire Station No. 6.
"If that's not going to be an option, it would be better to know sooner rather than later," White said.
The three councilmen also opposed allotting money from the redevelopment agency's budget for the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative.
Gonzales proposed a $100 million investment over the next five years to complete the top 10 priorities that each SNI neighborhood has identified. But the redevelopment agency's budget is not determined until August, and there is no certainty this funding level would be available.
"I think it's disingenuous to say we're going to invest $100 million of redevelopment money into SNI when it's not there," Cortese said.
The next step is for the city manager to put together a preliminary budget within the guidelines of the approved budget message and provide council members with a schedule for submitting proposed ideas and suggestions. The final budget will be adopted in June.
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