The Escondido city council has adopted a plan to close a $6.7 million hole in next year’s budget
The city General Fund has shrunk from about $88 million to about $77 million in the last 2 years.
City manager Clay Phillips says job cuts have already reduced the number of city employees down to 1991 levels.
He says his five year financial plan draws on a combination of strategies. “The model actually calls for a little more than a third from reserves, a third from staff reductions and then a third from compensation reduction.”
Escondido city labor groups have already agreed to furloughs.
Increased employee pension contributions are now an option on the table.
Labor negotiations are underway.
Alison St John, KPBS news.
