South Bay City Readies to Ax Upwards Of 70 Staffers: Report

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto City Council on Tuesday night proposed a budget that calls for the dismissal of upwards of 70 City Hall jobs, Palo Alto Weekly reports.

The budget cuts come amid plunging revenues triggered by the coronavirus crisis and is less draconian than those initially proposed by City Manager Ed Shikada, the report said.

The cuts are deep nevertheless and will impact virtually all aspects of life in the South Bay city including public safety.

"I hope there's not going to be another year like this," Councilwoman Liz Kniss said at the conclusion of the Tuesday meeting, according to the report.

The proposed budget calls for the dismissal of 74 full-time City Hall positions from a workforce of approximately 1,033 and the elimination of approximately 100 part-time positions that add up to about 26 full-time equivalent positions, the report said.

Councilman Greg Tanaka was the lone dissenter in a 6-1 council vote approving the proposed budget, which will go before the council for adoption on June 22, the report said.

The proposed budget hits calls for cuts to the police department, a reduction in library hours, a shutdown of the shuttle program and a significant reduction in funding of the Children’s Theatre among other cuts, the report said.

Read more at Palo Alto Weekly

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