Public safety job cuts proposed in Sacramento city budget | News

SACRAMENTO, CA - Declining property tax revenues and contracted employee raises are the main reasons why the city of Sacramento faces an expected $18 million deficit for fiscal year 2012-13, according to City Manager John Shirey.

To address the shortfall, Shirey proposes cutting approximately 286 full-time equivalent jobs, including 62.5 firefighter and 59 police positions. 

"We're looking at cutting our traffic unit and also some adminstrative staff," Sacramento police Sgt. Andrew Pettit said.

More layoffs will also mean scaling back response to 911 calls for things like property crimes, petty theft and felony related theft.

Police officers will not be able to come out to help victims of car accidents or home buglaries; instead, they will have to visit the police department or file a report online.

Layoffs will also hurt Sacramento City Fire Department. Hazmat response, boat water rescues and heavy rescues could be on the chopping block. Also, instead of four firefighters per engine, there may only be three.

"When you reduce the number of firefighters on the engine or truck, you inhibit the ability to enter a structure and search for victims and do that in a rapid time," Local 522 Firefighters Union spokesperson Ryan Henry said.

Shirey's $1.06 billion spending plan does not include taking funds from the city's general fund reserve.

The budget plan can be viewed here.

The situation doesn't look brighter for fiscal year 2013-14 when Shirey estimates the city will be short $7.4 million.

Public hearings on the proposed cutbacks begin May 1.