After 3 years of reduced spending and services, Santa Cruz leaders approved today a 366-million dollar budget package for the coming fiscal year. The cuts, which are expected to close a 17-million dollar deficit, include cuts to public services, parks and police work. Santa Cruz’s 24-hundred person workforce is expected to lose about 200 positions, all city employees are also expected to take 15 to 20 days of unpaid time off over the next 12 months beginning July 1st, county offices are also expected to close 15 days to accommodate staff reductions. Health and human services are also said to take another big cut when state lawmakers settle their budget later this year.
