Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/sergio-contreras/)
With new revenue from a recent sales tax increase starting in April, council members hired two police officers, and plan to add part-time code enforcement workers and other services aimed at helping the homeless.
Westminster voters approved a hotly contested one-cent sales tax increase Tuesday night, with 60.7 percent of voters approving the measure, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
While Westminster City Council members have struggled to make any decisions about how to deal with a $12.6 million structural deficit that is only expected to rise in coming years, they have made at least one thing clear: public safety will be a priority.
With a massive budget deficit that could bankrupt the city by 2018 looming, a divided city council traded shots this week over whether service cuts or taxes increases are the solution.
The city is facing a long-term deficit of $12.6 million and is on track to spend through its reserves in three years. Yet there is little appetite on council for either more budget cuts or tax increases.
Council members voted Thursday night to indemnify three former police chiefs and current chief Kevin Baker for $2.1 million in punitive damages leveled against them as part of a 2011 federal lawsuit.
Robin Roberts said she became a target of Councilwoman Margie Rice and other officials after she complained about potential Brown Act violations, unreported campaign contributions and conflicts of interest.
Council members choose to close a $5.3 million budget deficit by raiding reserve accounts, but indicate future deficits will have to be eliminated by cutting staff and/or raising taxes.