The San Diego City Council this afternoon voted 6-1 to reject nearly all of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ unpopular proposals — including the closure of libraries, recreation centers and reduction of fire crews — to help close a $43 million midyear budget gap.
To cover most of the costs of keeping those services, the council directed Sanders to take money — on a one-time basis — out of the city’s library improvement fund and the hotel-room tax fund.
The only no vote came from Councilman Jim Madaffer. Councilman Ben Hueso was absent.
Jay Goldstone, the city’s chief operating officer, said that because the majority of the savings council is using to restore the libraries, recreation centers and fire crews is on a one-time basis that the council’s action will increase the 2010 budget deficit by $9 million to $10 million.
Madaffer said that although he did not want to support the closure of libraries and recreation centers, he could not be a part of “kicking the can down the road.”