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Press release

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Huntington Beach leaders are set to decide tonight if they can afford an 18% raise for their police officers over the next three years amid a growing structural budget deficit and warnings of bankruptcy. 

Historically, raises for police officers and other public sector unions don’t get discussed much publicly by city council members across the county, but many cities are now grappling with growing budget problems that could make those talks a necessity. 

Read: How Rocky Are Orange County’s Municipal Budgets?

It’s a conversation that began last month in Surf City, when several city council members flagged the proposed contract with the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association, questioning how they could afford the raises and ordering finance commissioners to study it.  

“I fully support our public safety, unequivocally,” said Councilman Don Kennedy at the meeting. “But I also believe that my job, my fiduciary responsibility, is to our taxpayers … respect doesn’t have to be paid for.” 

Read: Huntington Beach Pumps Brakes on Raises for Police Amid Budget Concerns

Councilmembers Chad Williams, Andrew Gruel and Gracey Van Der Mark, with the latter two up for election this November, came out in support of the raises at that meeting, saying that they can’t pin the city’s flailing budget on the police department, which makes up about 30% of the city’s general fund. 

“I don’t think this is prudence, this is procedural sabotage,” Williams said. “The opportunity to kick this back was many months ago.”

To look at the proposal, click here. 

The city posted a 10-year forecast of their general fund budget, noting that without changes the deficit could grow to around $83 million a year by 2035 without granting any raises, or over $90 million with the raises. 

They also mapped out a series of possible ways to generate more revenue, including boosting the city’s existing fees on parking and short term rentals, as well as new taxes, which would require approval by the voters. 

The most significant boost to the city’s revenue would come from a 1% sales tax increase, generating around $46 million per year according to the staff presentation. 

City leaders are set to discuss both the police officer’s union contract and possible ways to boost revenue at their meeting that starts at 6 p.m. tonight. 

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.