Andrea Tevlin, San Diego’s independent budget analyst, has taken back her recommendation to add the necessary staffing to keep all 13 of the city’s pools open year round.
A week ago, Tevlin proposed restoring 85 of the 125 city staff positions Sanders proposes cutting in his fiscal 2009 budget. On Thursday, she cut her recommendation to 62 jobs — dropping, among others, the 16 park and recreation positions that would have made it possible for all the pools to stay open.
Tevlin’s earlier recommendation was based on an assumed reduction — to the tune of $1.6 million — in the amount the city pays in “booking fees” to the county of San Diego for beds in the county jail. Tevlin now says her assumption was “premature.”
“[Pools] are out of the picture because that is $1 million, and we don’t have the funds,” Tevlin said.
That being said, Tevlin pointed out that she is still recommending six positions be restored so four city pools can stay open from January to December. Sanders proposed cutting all staffing for year-round pools.
And, Tevlin said, her revised proposal saves a number of other jobs that San Diegans deem important.
“The proposal brings back service levels in skate parts, swimming pools, park management, and libraries to current year levels, which are significant service restorations to the city,” she said.