Pinole City Manager to Discuss Budget on Wednesday

As Pinole wrestles with current and future fiscal uncertainties, City Manager Belinda Espinosa will give a presentation Wednesday about the 2012-13 city budget and a contingency plan in case voters reject a renewal of a utility tax in November.

The city council last month — one based on the assumption that voters would agree to continue the 8 percent tax and one without the tax. It would maintain current levels of service. The second option, without the tax, would include the elimination of five jobs in the police department, three firefighters and two maintenance workers. Subsidies for the and Pinole Cable TV also would be slashed.

The tax will expire at the end this calendar year unless voters renew it.

The council has yet to approve ballot measure language that would set the rate or expiration date for a proposed tax renewal.

Espinosa's speech is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Pinole Senior Center, 2500 Charles Ave.