Sacramento city officials hope to release the draft city budget before 4 p.m. on Friday, said city spokeswoman Amy Williams. The city is facing a $40-$43 million budget gap, according to an estimate provided earlier this month from Interim City Manager Gus Vina. Williams said the city releases the draft budget on May 1 each year. This year the city will release it the day before May 1. She said the city’s charter dictates the timeline for the budget release. The charter calls for the city manager to issue budget recommendations at least 60 days ahead of July 1. City Councilman Steve Cohn said last month at a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting that he expects major cuts to city parks. 

A divided City Council decided Tuesday to approve a $21-million parts and services contract to an international auto parts corporation in the midst of opposition from local auto parts businesses.  Staff with the General Services Department said the new five-year contract with the National Auto Parts Association (NAPA) will yield $2 million in savings for the city. After hearing from representatives from several local auto parts companies, the City Council voted 6-3 to approve the contract. Mayor Kevin Johnson and Councilmembers Sandy Sheedy and Kevin McCarty voted against the deal.  “Small business is the backbone of our economy and we have to do everything we can to make sure that we s