Oakland May Lay Off Police

It’s looking increasingly likely that up to 200 police officers may be laid off to help balance the budget in Oakland, California. Oakland is currently facing a projected budget deficit of $42 million dollars for the next fiscal year, and unless two revenue-raising (read: tax increase) ballot initiatives are approved by Oakland citizens in November, the only way to close the budget gap will be with widespread layoffs.

City Council President Jane Brunner said that city officials were in talks with fire and police unions but that those unions had not signalaed a willingness to make concessions such as reduced pay or increasing the level of employee contributions to pension funds.