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Editorials/Opinion
Editorial: Support your local officials: Sign initiative petition, Vacaville Reporter, 2/17/10
Op-Ed: Don't continue to plunder resources, San Bernardino Sun, 1/25/10
Editorial: Cities face ugly budget choices, North County Times, 1/21/10
Op-Ed: Stopping state raids essential to protecting local services, San Mateo Daily Journal, 1/19/10
Op-Ed: We must end state raids on local tax dollars, San Diego Union Tribune, 1/17/10
Op-Ed: State raids of local funds put services, taxpayers at risk, San Bernardino Sun, 1/16/10
Editorial: Support effort to protect city's funds, Del Mar Times, 1/14/10
Articles
It's not just the Capitol: Billions in red ink drowning California's cities, schools and counties, too, San Jose Mercury News, 3/6/10
With even well-managed counties, cities and schools finding themselves in the same budget hole that has swallowed state government, California now confronts a financial crisis that may be unrivaled — though it is also maddeningly difficult to quantify.
Fire Station Cutbacks Could Hurt Response Times, KPBS FM- 89.5 (San Diego), 3/4/10
San Diego’s fire department has been operating under a money saving strategy for about a month. Under the plan, up to eight fire engines can be idled each day and their crews reassigned to cover for sick or absent firefighters. The plan saves money but could also impact the department’s response times.
Santa Barbara County facing stark budget realities, Santa Maria Times, 2/24/10
Firefighters may not be able to run into a burning home because of staff cuts.
Rohnert Park begins cutting jobs, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 2/23/10,
The Rohnert Park City Council, hoping to close a $4.4 million deficit that is projected to swell to $6 million next year, took an axe to its city budget Tuesday and said it would also ask voters for more money through a sales tax measure.
Cupertino joins cities supporting ballot measure to keep taxes from state, San Jose Mercury Community News, 2/16/10
Cupertino is among a growing list of California cities backing a constitutional amendment to permanently prevent the state from taking local tax revenues.
Novato's two police dogs slated to be cut from city budget, Contra Costa Times, 2/11/10
Officially, Novato projects to cut its city staff by 39 positions over the next two years if budget-reducing recommendations are approved next month. But that number jumps to 41 if the scope is broadened to include every living being.
Vallejo cops seek greener pastures nearby, Vallejo Times-Herald, 2/1/10
Vallejo is "lateraling" more and more experienced police officers to nearby Bay Area cities as more layoffs loom in the near future for the bankrupt city.
Perris police budget slashed by $900,000, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/31/10
Perris citizens will see fewer patrol cars, less traffic enforcement and possibly slower emergency response times after a $900,000 cut to the city's law enforcement budget.
Rocklin approves police, fire layoffs, Placer Herald, 1/27/10
Council directs city to cut $4 million from budget
San Rafael council brings ax down on 15 jobs, Marin Daily Journal, 1/26/10
San Rafael city leaders at a special meeting Tuesday unanimously cut nearly 15 jobs from the city payroll in an effort to stave off a fiscal fiasco that tenured council members said was the worst they had seen in nearly 20 years.
ESCONDIDO: Budget plan would close arts center, city pools, library branch, North County Times, 1/25/10
Orange Glen High School girls water polo team coach Elizabeth Boyer runs practice Monday at Washington Park Pool in Escondido. The city may close the pool due to budget problems.
Cities hope petitions save cash, The Vacaville Reporter, 1/22/10
Cities are banding together in an effort to put a stop to state raids of local government money.
Woodland's Chamber hears pitch for new amendment, Woodland Daily Democrat, 1/21/10
League of Cities pushing to stop state from raiding local coffers
BART debates whether to raise fares, lay off workers to cope with budget deficit, San Jose Mercury News, 1/20/10
Higher fares, layoffs and dirtier train cars and stations.
These are all possibilities at BART during another grim financial year, with ridership and sales-tax revenue continuing to decline.
