Costa Mesa Approves Unprecedented Budget Cuts, Layoffs

COSTA MESA (CBS) — The Costa Mesa City Council has approved layoffs for 200 city workers, eight police officers and an animal control officer.

The controversial budget cuts were approved around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The changes come despite an independent audit, which was paid for by the city workers' union. The audit says there is roughly $23 million available for the upcoming fiscal year in the city's general fund.

On Monday, CBS2 spoke to acting Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer after interim police Chief Steve Staveley called the city council majority "unethical and immoral."

In his resignation letter, Staveley accused council members of lying about a financial crisis.

"I don't know how out of touch you have to be to not understand that cities have budget crises. I understand that he doesn't want any cuts out of his department and I think he wants to go out in some strange way," Righeimer said.