By Khalida Sarwari
The San Jose City Council on Tuesday approved Mayor Chuck Reed’s 2012 budget proposal to close a $115 million deficit.
The council voted 7-4 to approve the proposed budget following a lengthy meeting during which they also unanimously approved an agreement with the San Jose Police Officers’ Association on concessions that will save the jobs of 156 police officers.
Councilmembers Ash Kalra, Kansen Chu, Xavier Campos and Pete Constant voted against the budget proposal.
Even with the concessions, which include a 10 percent reduction in salary and benefits, the city is expected to lay off around 100 police officers.
Among the few positives in the budget is that the jobs of 49 firefighters will be restored thanks to a federal grant.
Branch libraries will stay open four days a week, even though initially City Manager Debra Figone had proposed reducing hours to three days a week. Hours at all of the city’s community centers will be reduced by four hours a week.
The final budget will take effect in July.