Santa Ana, CA - Sanctuary city feeling the pinch of losing Federal $$$

[DLR Pyro]

Santa Ana Faces Major Budget Shortfall, Officials Say

Santa Ana officials face a troubled financial future, with top staff projecting a $14 million shortfall for city operating costs in the upcoming fiscal year and a $19.5 million deficit the following year.

The city also has a projected $2.2 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The news, discussed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, reverses years of positive budget outlooks, and could spell long-term trouble if not addressed, top officials said. a

“We have a major structural deficit,” said Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who has emerged as the council’s deciding swing vote on major decisions. She blamed part of the shortfall on the city’s subsidizing of a 512-bed jail that essentially doesn’t house city arrestees.

The city expects to spend a total of $238 million next fiscal year for operating expenses, known as the general fund budget.

City staff attributed the projected shortfall to a mix of revenue reductions – mainly the $11 million a year loss from the cancelled jail contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)– as well as cost increases.

http://voiceofoc.org/2017/05/santa-ana-faces-major-budget-shortfall-officials-say/

The idiot city council voted to become a sanctuary city and to stop cooperating with ICE when it comes to turning over incarcerated illegal aliens over.  This decision cost them a contract with ICE and a loss of $11 million.   I have no sympathy for these nutjobs or their money problems.

[thundley4]

Cities are going to fight tooth and nail in the courts to keep those federal funds. That is why getting Gorsuch on the USSC matter again.