The Sacramento Press wants your neighborhood-related questions for Interim City Manager Gus Vina, the city’s highest-ranking official. What issues or concerns do you have about your neighborhood? What do you think the city government should do to improve your neighborhood? Write your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this article. Questions for Vina can also be e-mailed to kathleen@sacramentopress.com. The Sacramento Press will choose several questions from community members for Vina to answer. Vina was chosen as interim city manager by Mayor Kevin Johnson and the eight City Council members and will serve for nine to 12 months. He replaced Ray Kerridge, who resigned fr

While Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn expects dismal budget numbers for the city this year, he also thinks the local economy will begin to heal. In an interview about his goals for 2010, Cohn said the city budget will be his top priority. He said he doesn’t yet know a specific number for the city’s possible budget deficit this year, but he expects the figures to be daunting. The Sacramento City Council made major cuts to services last year to address a $50 million deficit. “In general, despite the tough economy, I’m actually very optimistic about the future,” Cohn said. “So I feel like we’re going to see things start to turn around in 2010.” Cohn said he expects job opportunities

Now that Sacramento’s 2009 / 2010 budget has been approved, what does the city’s financial picture look like for next year? The Sacramento Press sat down with Leyne Milstein, the city’s finance director, to ask that question. Milstein outlined next year’s projected $30 million deficit and commented on the city’s “structural deficit.” While Milstein grapples with severe city budget gaps that are tens of millions of dollars, she has a self-described “lighter side” that is evident in her choice of office decorations. An interview with Milstein would be incomplete without mention of her Magic 8 Ball collection. Sacramento Press: What is the city’s financial outlook for the next year? Leyne

The local firefighters' union and city officials are publicizing a new one-year labor agreement for firefighters. The deal between the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 and the city would consist of a 5 percent salary cut for firefighters during the 2009/2010 fiscal year. The other key component of the deal is that city officials have promised not to lay off firefighters throughout the one-year period. Local 522 and city officials have been sparring over a new contract for firefighters. City officials planned to lay off dozens of firefighters as part of city budget cuts. This tentative contract for the firefighters’ union differs from earlier versions which included raises and longe

City Council to consider budget: The City Council may adopt a final 2009/2010 fiscal year budget Tuesday, June 16. The Tuesday meeting starts at 6 p.m. City Council meetings are open to the public and are held at 915 I St. The city is considering many cuts and layoffs to address a deficit of more than $43 million. A total of 168 pink slips were distributed to employees June 2. Fewer employees may be laid off if unions make concessions, according to city officials. County supervisors to act on proposed budget: The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors may approve a proposed budget for the 2009/2010 fiscal year on Wednesday, June 17. Wednesday’s budget meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. The mee

 A number of city employees received pink slips Monday that said their last day of work would be June 19. Though 168 workers received the layoff letters, city officials said the number of potential layoffs would go down if unions make concessions. The city is planning layoffs and cuts to services to address a budget deficit of more than $43 million. Sacramento began its budget planning for the 2009/2010 fiscal year with a $50 million deficit. The deficit figure dropped to $43.6 million in March after the Sacramento Police Officers Association made concessions on pay increases, said Gus Vina, an assistant city manager. The firefighters’ union, Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, made

The following press release was issued by Mayor Kevin Johnson's office Friday: Mayor Johnson to Ask City Council to Declare “State of Fiscal Crisis” Move Designed to Help Prevent State from Raising City’s Depleted Coffers SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will ask the City Council on Tuesday to declare a "State of Fiscal Crisis" because of the city's deepening budget woes. Sacramento will join more than 100 cities in the state that already have or plan to declare a fiscal crisis. These actions by communities statewide follow a recommendation by the state's Department of Finance to borrow $2 billion in local property taxes to meet the state's budget shortfall, a move Mayor Jo

City management will still need to lay off staff even if all of its unions make concessions, according to the city’s finance director. Sacramento Finance Director Leyne Milstein said she could not say how many layoffs would be needed if all the unions make concessions. That’s because the City Council will make the final decisions on cuts to services and programs, Milstein said. Concessions from the unions will not create enough savings to avoid layoffs, Milstein said. The city’s proposed budget aims to resolve a $50 million deficit. If the unions do not make concessions, city management plans to lay off 189 city employees. At its May 19 meeting, the City Council will address the propo

The city’s Development Services Department has a new name. It’s now known as the Community Development Department (CDD). City records manager and acting spokeswoman Wendy Klock-Johnson explained that the new department brings together long-range planning staff and development services staff. The administrative change is an efficiency, she said. The city’s 2009/2010 proposed budget includes a plan to move Planning Department employees. Under the plan, the Planning Department would move 26 full-time positions and $2.4 million to the new CDD “as part of the consolidation of planning services,” the budget states. Of the 26 positions, one is not funded and the remaining 25 are funded. The ne

The city of Sacramento is considering 189 layoffs as one part of its effort to address its $50 million deficit, according to its most recent count of potential layoffs. The proposed budget figures, released Friday, mean possible layoffs for 189 people, explained city records manager and acting spokeswoman Wendy Klock-Johnson. She noted that she hopes the public will read the budget documents and “be an active part of the process.” Sacramento’s 2009/2010 budget states that the city will need to cut 387 positions. Klock-Johnson explained that the 387 positions figure means that 189 people could be laid off. That’s because vacant positions make up the remaining 198 jobs. The City Council