$1.1 million deficit forces city cutbacks

$1.1 million deficit forces city cutbacks
"A $1.1 million budget deficit has grown since September, when the Muskegon City Commission approved the 2009 budget.
Lower income tax collections and reduced state revenue sharing are part of the problem city commissioners have solved with $615,000 worth of budget cuts and a $500,000 raid of the city's budget stabilization fund -- a 'rainy-day account.'
The $615,000 in budget cuts include $144,000 in the elimination of three vacant patrol officer positions and $39,000 in the reclassification of four fire department positions. The reductions and expenditure from the budget stabilization fund were reluctantly but unanimously approved by commissioners Monday."

Classic move to punish "taxpayers", cut fire and police protection first.

"There is simply no other pork in the budget......."

Yeah right....