Pinole Council to Consider Budget With 20 Percent Revenue Loss

Pinole would see cuts in police and fire department staffing and the elimination of city hall administrative positions in a projected budget proposal to be presented to the city council on Tuesday.

The spending plan is based on the premise that voters do not approve the extension of an 8 percent tax on phone, gas and electricity bills in November. In a report to the council, city staff project that five police officer positions would be eliminated, emergency dispatch services would be re-organized and a number of fire department and adminstrative jobs would be rubbed out.

In all, the equivalent of 14 jobs would be cut from a city-wide staff of about 100 employees. The city also would erase support for the Pinole Swim Center and reduce cable TV station staffing to a level that would broadcast only city council and planning commission meetings.

The utility tax provides 20 percent of city revenue. It's due to expire at the end of the year unless voters agree to extend it. The council has yet to approve a measure for the terms of an extension.

The contingency budget envisions cutting five full-time police officer positions, one and a half administrative support police staff, a fire engineer, a firefighter-paramedic the assistant city manager position, a human resources job and three public works department staff people.

Also, the fire chief position that the city currently shares with the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District would disappear.

The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 2131 Pear St. The meeting will be carried live on Pinole TV. The full budget staff report is attached to this article.