San Francisco Flush With Cash; Cuts Still Loom
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - San Francisco pulled in more taxes than had been projected, and lost less state funding than expected, putting the budget for this year $21 million in the black.
A report from the Controller's Office on Wednesday offered a sliver of hope that the city could once again avoid bruising budget cuts in the future, said mayoral spokesman Tony Winnicker.
"We were able to balance our budget without police and firefighter layoffs, teacher layoffs, or some of the deep service cuts that we've seen in cities across California," he said.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
Some $25 million in the general fund and $33.4 million back in the rainy day fund account for the surplus, Winnicker said, adding that steady stewardship had steered the city away from the mid-year cuts necessary in the second half of 2009.
That's when the city cut back on public transportation, parks and services for youth and seniors. And Board of Supervisors President David Chiu cautioned that San Francisco's money problems were far from solved.
"We got it mostly right, but we are facing another looming budget deficit next year," he said.
