Police and emergency responders fighting to keep their jobs as Palm Springs eyes budget cuts

As the city of Palm Springs braces against an unprecedented financial crisis, a more than $76 million projected loss in revenue through June 2021, city council is now tasked with making tough choices, like what cuts to make to essential city services.

City staff proposed Thursday night putting 11 city safety employees on the chopping block: police, fire and paramedics.

"During this time when everyone is scared, taking public safety away will only make people feel less safe," one woman said calling into the meeting.

Dominating the public comment period were people urging city council not to cut those who keep the city safe, including four prominent Palm Springs police officers.

"We are the ones who keep the doors open at city hall, we are the ones who put out the fires and we are the ones who hunt the bad guys while you sleep safely in bed," said Sgt. Mike Casavan.

Lt. William Hutchinson warned that the department already operates short-staffed, and there could be real consequences of cuts.

"A cut of 13-20 police officers will devastate our ability as a community, as a city, and as a police department to effectively police this town and provide adequate public safety," Hutchinson said.

City council did not make any decisions Thursday night, but is weighing several scenarios presented by city staff.

They are looking toward using $19 million from the city's $33 million reserve to make it through this June.

Then, they're staring down a $47 million deficit through June 2021.

"we'll get through this," Mayor Geoff Kors said. "It's not a permanent situation. This is an unprecedented emergency and we'll charter it together."

Palm Springs relies on tourism to generate nearly 50 percent of its total revenue. The city was one of the first to declare a financial emergency.

City leaders this week sent a letter to President Trump and other leaders in Washington, requesting federal assistance. They say without that federal help they're looking at cuts to critical core services.

They're urging Washington officials to look at the revenue lost, and not base any financial assistance they give on full-time population size, as Palm Springs' population grows significantly with part-time residents and tourists.

"We really need to just look at what we want to make changes in," said Mayor Geoff Kors. "There will be a need for reductions in programs and services of all kinds, and council was clear everything had to be on the table so we could get public input and have a thoughtful conversation and give staff more direction."

Kors said for this fiscal year, which ends at the end of next month, the city is able to cover some of their losses with reserves, plus money saved through hiring freezes and other efforts already in place – totaling about $10 million.

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