Santa Paula’s City Council held an emergency meeting on May 13 to announce they were facing a $1.2 million budget deficit for the 2009-10 Fiscal Year. The City is currently in negotiations with the police and fire departments but they told SEIU 721 members that they needed cuts from them or they would have to proceed with laying-off workers and privatizing services. Workers asked the Council for time in order to present their ideas and alternatives to cuts in services.
“The City has not asked the frontline workers that perform city services if we have ideas on how to reduce costs, streamline services or even ideas about increasing revenue. We urge the Council and the City to meet with workers and SEIU before making any decisions” said Denise Cervantes, Public Works/Secretary for Santa Paula.
The City Council agreed that it would be important to hear ideas from city workers and directed the staff to coordinate the meetings and to include two city council members in the meetings. The Council approved postponing the discussions about “cuts and lay offs” in order for SEIU members to present their ideas and have them evaluated.