Mayor’s Proposed Budget Restores Fire Engines, Severely Cuts Parks and Library Hours

Mayor Jerry Sanders on Thursday released a budget proposal that would, over time, bring back all of the browned out fire engines, but drastically cut parks and library hours and staff.

Sanders said it’s his intention to leave office in December 2012 with the city’s budget problems resolved and this plan brings him “ever closer” to succeeding.

A quick look at the proposal:

• Brown outs: Four of the eight browned out engines would be restored July 1; the other four on Jan. 1. The cuts had been made to save $11.5 million.
• Recreation: Starting Sept. 6, center hours would be cut from 40 to 20; the equivalent of 77 full-time positions would be eliminated. Savings: $6.5 million.
• Libraries: Branches would only be open two days a week; the equivalent of 77 full-time positions would be cut. Savings: $7.4 million.
• Police: Department budget reduced $5.5 million, including cutting 20 vacant officer positions.
• Fire: Budget allocation increased by $8 million to restore the engines.

Other numbers:

• General fund deficit: Initially estimated at $56.7 million; increased to $73.2 million with fire engine restorations and other adjustments.
• Total budget: $275 billion, of which $1.1 billion is the general fund.

The full budget proposal and a letter to San Diegans from Sanders can be found on the city's website here.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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