City Council To Declare Fiscal Emergency In San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO (CBS) — Lawmakers in San Bernardino were expected to declare a fiscal emergency on Monday as the city inches closer toward bankruptcy.
KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports the City Council is expected to reaffirm the decision that is likely to severely impact public safety.
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Council members are warning that residents could see fewer police officers on the streets and fire stations put on "rolling brownouts" after the City Council voted to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy last Monday.
Once a fiscal emergency is declared, city officials can quickly move toward bankruptcy proceedings, which could see public services drastically scaled back.
But with the city facing a severe cash flow shortage, Acting Assistant City Manager Gwendolyn Waters said the cuts are more than welcome.
"Personally, I think we all understand cuts are necessary, cuts are gonna come, and I think most of the employees of the city are pretty supportive of that," said Waters.
Residents in this city, however, were left shaking their heads.
"It just surprises me that it took the city this long to go bankrupt," said one man.
The City Council will meet in closed session first before its official meetings gets underway at 3:00 p.m.
