Budget

Former councilmember blasted budget cuts that eliminated a parks worker, restroom cleaning, code enforcement, and landscaping contracts, urging a budget amendment to restore park funding.

Strongly supported a budget committee with district representation, criticizing the city's poor community engagement and late financial audits.

Supported the budget committee and suggested adding a council member and staff liaison to it.

Speaking for the Commission on Aging and 8,500 seniors, begged the council not to eliminate the senior recreation coordinator position and criticized the lack of district representation during budget meetings.

Asked whether department goals will be in the budget, whether the adopted budget will be available at the public library, and for fire and police call statistics for all stations and months.

Suggested closing the Pecos Avenue fire station (70% of its calls are outside Ceres) and converting staff overtime to compensatory time, claiming roughly $2.5 million in savings.

Urged the council to adopt a fully balanced budget (Option C), saying hard times demand it and noting reserves of roughly $400 million should be preserved for emergencies. He called for a 4-0 vote supporting the city manager's recommendations.

Email read into the record urging a balanced budget, ending overtime, closing the Pecos fire station, charging for the fire training center, and considering a temporary month-to-month budget.

Asked whether exit interviews were done during the police department's high turnover years, and later questioned the $525,000 legal services budget.

Asked whether fire contract savings would be reported later, and pressed on what control the city has over the fire budget given 14 frozen general fund positions absorbing cuts while the contract grows.

Asked whether businesses face fines for non-compliance and suggested fines for unsecured bins; later questioned the low-response sales tax survey, expired business licenses (citing the In-N-Out on Mitchell and Service), landscaping outsourcing costs, and urged CDBG money go to sidewalks and roads before code enforcement.

Pointed out Ceres has no firefighters of its own — Modesto provides them under contract — and said the over-budget figure is unacceptable, suggesting the council give up its own insurance as a cost saving.

Said it's sad he's one of the only residents there, blamed the 5:30 p.m. work-hour meeting time, and asked for weekend meetings. Also asked for clarification on whether reserves are at 6.6%.

Pressed staff on why the fire contract jumped $1.5 million and noted the fire increase plus the $400,000 cannabis revenue drop account for most of the deficit; asked how much flexibility the city has in negotiations.