South Bend laying off cops, firefighters?

The South Bend Tribune is reporting:

South Bend to cut 200 jobs by 2010

The city is cutting more than 200 employees over the next two years and could close parks facilities, because of a loss in property tax revenues from House Enrolled Act 1001.

Among those positions are 53 firefighters, 40 police officers and some parks personnel, which will have to be cut by 2010. It’s a total of 15 percent of the city’s staff.

Mayor Stephen Luecke told the Common Council during its first budget hearing Monday that the numbers are not pretty but are realistic.

The city will lose a projected $18.2 million annually to its general fund and $3.1 million to its Tax Increment Financing District funds by 2010, which means a loss in city services.

(Read more after the leap)

Although Luecke said he supports property tax reform, HEA 1001 didn’t provide replacement revenues for city services. Luecke said by 2010 property tax owners will pay about $21.3 million less annually in property taxes, but in the end it’s a tax shift.

The mayor outlined some of the cuts, which include:
* Funding for programs such as Youth Services Bureau, Healthy Communities Initiative, La Casa de Amistad and Workforce Development Initiative.
* The commercial corridor program, which is used for enhancements in the city’s five commercial corridors.
* The 50/50 shared cost curb and sidewalk program. Lamppost and historic streetlight efforts would also be cut.
* After-school program funding, and Weed and Seed funding.

You can read the rest of the article here.
And I strongly encourage you to do so.
When I read it (several times over), Mayor Luecke never says anything about laying off cops and firefighters. Yes, they talk about public safety:

Council President Timothy Rouse, D-at large, said he knew coming into the meeting that the numbers would be extensive particularly because public safety takes up 75 percent of the operating budget.

But again, no where about cops and firefighters.

Animal Control Officers? Yes. Take Home Vehicles? That’s there too.

Cops? No. Firefighters? Uh, nope.

Love how the press sensationalized this one.

You show me an elected official who would have enough conviction to lay off cops and firefighters… and I will show you an elected official who would need private security to escort him out of the building.

No matter how tight budgets are going to get for a bit (because of House Enrolled Act 1001), smaller town and county governments will learn how to operate within their means. Kinda like how you and I have to live each day.