Video Transcript:

GLORIA PENNER: Sitting in a park, playing basketball at a rec center, and reading a good book in a library are small pleasures that many of us enjoy in our daily lives. But as city budgets shrink, our quality of life may be disappearing, too. KPBS digital reporter Sharon Heilbrunn has the story.

SHARON HEILBRUNN: This is Montevalle Recreation Center in Chula Vista. It looks, well, empty. That's because it's 1 p.m. and budget cuts have forced the popular rec center to keep its doors locked until 3, even during the summer. Starting in July, every rec center in Chula Vista -- except one -- will be closed on Sundays because the city can't afford to keep them open. The cuts in Chula Vista reflect the situation across the county. In San Diego, cuts have forced skate parks to go unsupervised, potholes to remain jarring, and information centers to be shuttered. Library hours have been reduced, which means many programs, like storytime, have disappeared, and the library staff needs to get more done with less. Hours have also been slashed at city rec centers. At Montevalle, about 50 people come through every hour to exercise, play or just hang out. And the effects of a limp budget aren't always so obvious. Less public works staff means graffiti stays up longer and the grass at parks isn't mowed as often. We asked people this: Would you rather pay more in taxes to keep city services, or do you see these cuts as a way of life?

KARLA GONZALES: I would prefer paying more taxes to know that there's programs for both my daughters, and know that they'll be there, if we need them.



OLIVIA DIAZ:  I would not want to pay  more in taxes, due to the financial strain. We're already paying higher HOA's, car insurance, property tax and car taxes going up as well.



JOSEPH ROLEY-ARZAGA: You know, if it's a good quality program, we're willing to pay for it. The more I pay now upfront to get my kids into some of the social programs and interact with other kids, the easier it will be for them later on in school, and I think later on in life.



LIDIA MILLER: Actually, if it was going to be used toward the rec centers, it would be no problem for me as far as taxes going up. If it's going to be something that the kids are able to use, that the kids are able to educate themselves in, cause there's lots and lots of great programs in rec centers.



SHARON HEILBRUNN: Now, city officials hope to reverse the cutbacks if and when the budget increases. We want to know if these cuts have affected your quality of life. Log onto kpbs.org/sdweek and leave us a comment. And be sure to tune in next week, when I take a look at grass in San Diego and whether green lawns use too much water to maintain. For kpbs.org, I'm Sharon Heilbrunn.