IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
San Jacinto has let go seven full-time and three part-time employees in the aftermath of voters’ rejection of a utility tax that would have helped pay for police and fire protection.
Seven vacant positions will not be filled, and two other employees – one full-time and one part-time – are scheduled to be laid off next month, according to a report in The Press-Enterprise.
Unfortunately, the cuts will not be restricted to city jobs: three parks and the city’s community center are scheduled to be shut down, city hall will be closed on Fridays starting Dec. 1 and police and fire services will be cut back, the report stated
San Jacinto officials have asked the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police protection to the city, to reduce its $9.42 million contract by $885,000.
Also, one of the city’s two fire stations will he closed, perhaps by as early as mid-February, according to the report.
Earlier this month, voters rejected a 6.5 percent tax on utilities that would have raised about $5.1 million annually. Before the election, city officials warned that services would be cut if the tax was not approved.
