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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - February 18, 1992 Page - 11 - NEW BUSINESS (continued) alternate budget because the City will be short $3.7 million for Fiscal Year 1992-93. He said he felt, if the City Council made a mistake at all , it was when they approved the Budget Refocus Plan but did not fulfill the request of the City Manager to introduce cuts in personnel throughout the City immediately. He said those cuts have been done by attrition at an additional cost of $400,000, and there would be additional costs in the up-coming year. He said he is concerned regarding proposed cuts for the Library because he feels we must educate our children. He said in the last couple of weeks additional information indicates the City's financial condition may be worse than they had anticipated. He said he did not feel scare tactics were used. He said there were a lot of articles in newspapers regarding other cities and problems they are having. He said other cities have cut staff, delayed capital projects, used reserves, raised taxes, etc. , and San Leandro has done everything possible in these areas. He said the Council has been responsible. He said he did not think it was a good idea to eliminate the enabling Ordinance. He suggested the Ordinance be maintained but a budget be prepared with public input. He said no one wants San Leandro to deteriorate like cities such as New York, Detroit, and Oakland; but those cities have deteriorated because there were not funds to maintain them. He said we don't want to see the same happen in San Leandro. Council Member Glaze said the last six months have been very difficult for the City Council and the community. He said a suggestion had been made to wait until new Council Members take office, but he noted there are always new Council Members every two years. He said the City started looking at Budget Refocus in 1990 when Council Members Polvorosa and Corbett were new. He said the City is not using scare tactics; cuts had to be made in Police and Fire and many community programs have been cut. He said in 1990 it was thought things would get better in 1991 ; but that has not happened, and it does not appear that 1992 will get better. He said the City cannot keep betting on the next year but must make the budget balance. He said the budget could perhaps be balanced without making cuts to Police and Fire, but it would mean using all of the City's reserves, which would bring the City to a standstill . He said the City Council must constantly deal with new projects such as dredging, etc. , but Federal funds are not guaranteed. He said the Council is trying to make a difference for the future, and the Assessment Districts will address the needs of the future. He said the City Council has an obligation to make hard decisions. He asked people to become fully informed and see what the City's needs are in the long run. He said this is for the future of the community. Council Member Corbett said she has tried to figure out ways to solve the City's financial problems and make everyone happy, but that does not seem possible. She said sales tax projections are down more than was originally anticipated, and it is questionable as to whether there will be any economic reserve this year. She said the public indicated