Region Weighs Budget Cuts as Economy Slows
As the impact of last month’s terrorist attacks ripples through the Bay Area’s economy, communities from San Francisco to Monterey are mulling cuts to public programs and the possibility of furloughing some workers.
San Francisco, which like Santa Cruz and Monterey depends heavily on hotel taxes and tourist spending, could eliminate new programs such as hepatitis health education and tree planting. In San Jose, spending on parks, recreation programs, sewer maintenance and stoplights are under scrutiny.
Officials across the region are bracing for even worse times next fiscal year.
“The real question is how much money we’ll get for next year and how much we’ll be able to continue offering services,” said Matthew Hymel, San Francisco’s chief assistant controller.
Santa Cruz Mayor Tim Fitzmaurice sees trouble sooner than that.
“We might not have the money to do basic city business,” he said. “We see real trouble ahead if we’re not careful.”
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