Hollister
– The City Council will vote next week on its much-discussed
deficit reduction plan.
Hollister – The City Council will vote next week on its much-discussed deficit reduction plan.
The meeting agenda released Thursday did not include any information about the cuts, but councilmembers and City Manager Clint Quilter have said they will be approving the plan first brought forward in December.
The plan calls for two rounds of cuts. During the first, 12 full-time positions will be eliminated, service in nearly every department will be reduced and recreation department fees will be increased.
Hollister is currently coping with a budget deficit, and staffers say that without cuts, the city runs the risk of using up its reserves and going bankrupt.
Police Chief Jeff Miller and Fire Chief Bill Garringer have both expressed concerns about how the cuts could affect public safety; others have said they’re worried that increased recreation fees could drive players away.
Councilman Doug Emerson, however, has told the Free Lance that the plan is “the best we can do given the circumstances.” He emphasized that the cuts manage to reduce services without causing any long-term damage that could end up costing the city more.
The council will meet at 6:30pm Jan. 16 in City Hall.
