Anyone have an extra $1 million sitting around the house? If so, the town of Los Gatos could certainly use it. It's just about that much of a shortfall that the town faces as it attempts to balance the budget.
Department managers in town, who have been cutting and trimming budgets for the past four years, have been asked to do it again--to the tune of a 4 percent reduction--and this time it appears it's going to hurt.
For four years, Los Gatos has managed to weather to storm, despite four years of budget cuts. The town's being asked to batten down the hatches again, though, and this time it appears that there will little shelter from the storm of cuts.
In recent years, the town has managed to make adjustments in staffing and services that have had little impact on the public. That won't be the case this time around.
Two positions in the Los GatosMonte Sereno Police Department, increased fees for certain town services, changes in library hours and staffing levels, reduction in services and supplies for parks, engineering and streets programs ... and the list goes on.
Beyond the cuts, there are also plans for the consolidation of some administrative and clerical duties around Town Hall.
Vice Mayor Diane McNutt voiced the concern shared by other councilmembers when she said, "It feels like we've cut a little too close to the bone here," at the last town council meeting. She was referring mainly to the loss of the two sworn police officers.
But a $1 million shortfall is a major deficit for a small town like Los Gatos to recover, and it will take some tough decisions on the part of the town council and town staff to make up that deficit.
These will not be popular decisions that Town Manager Debra Figone, Mayor Mike Wasserman and the rest of the town council will have to make. For that reason, it is incumbent upon the members of the community to support the town leadership through this challenging exercise.
The town must weather this current financial storm to get on solid footing.
Then, hopefully, there will be brighter days ahead.
Annual egg hunt
But all is not doom and gloom around town. As the council and staff search for ways to fund town programs, youngsters in the community will be searching for eggs and other treasures in the annual egg hunt on the front lawn of Los Gatos High School.
The Los GatosSaratoga Community Education and Recreation Department will host the annual free event on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The family event affirms what everyone in Los Gatos already knows--that even when the town faces challenges, it remains an environment that fosters a community spirit.
