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City manager outlines tough trade-offs if levy fails: savings first, then service cuts or other structural options
Summary
Dirks said the city would use savings in the short term if a levy fails but warned that ongoing shortfalls could force cuts to parks, planning subsidies and recreation programs, renegotiation of contracts, or even long-term structural options like annexation or disincorporation if revenues cannot cover services.
In response to attendee questions, City Manager Greg Dirks said the city would initially use savings to cover a shortfall if voters reject a levy, but that savings are finite. "Our public safety gap ... is over $400,000," Dirks said, and he explained that making up that difference by trimming services would mean significant reductions — not simply eliminating one weekly mow — in parks maintenance, recreation and some planning subsidies.
Dirks described longer-term possibilities if deficits persist: renegotiating contracts, searching for partners, exploring annexation by a neighboring city or, in extreme scenarios, disincorporation. He cautioned many outcomes would "depend" on subsequent negotiations and voter choices and said the city is building next year’s budget assuming the levy does not pass to avoid surprise shortfalls.
