Midyear city budget cuts to make up an estimated $43 million 2009 budget shortfall has residents concerned over looming threats of loss of public facilities and services. The list contains a proposal to eliminate emergency medical services at La Jolla Fire Station 9 and contract the service to an outside vendor. If passed, the mayor concludes there would be no reduction in emergency services. Deep cuts include closing the Ocean Beach library, eliminating pressure-washing services at Ocean Beach Pier and shuttering of about 14 restrooms in Mission Beach during winter — all are on the list of possible money-saving cuts, according to a mayoral report. The recommendations represent a reduction of expected incoming property, sales and tourists’ tax dollars in a slowing economy, said Rachel Laing, spokesperson for the mayor’s office. “It’s not as if we didn’t anticipate lower tax revenue, and we were really conservative if not pessimistic about estimates,” she said. “It’s just that nobody knew just how deep it would be and how short we would fall.” The City Council listened to residents’ concerns in a daylong hearing Wednesday, Nov. 12, but an official response by the council or the mayor’s office was not available by press time. Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who sits on the city’s Budget and Finance Committee, said he’s working with an independent budget analyst to “look at the assumptions behind the numbers.” He didn’t have specifics as to what facilities and services would likely get the ax. Asked which programs and buildings in the beach communities he would like to see survive budget cuts, “Everything that’s on that list is important,” Faulconer said. While city officials scramble to come up with answers to the community’s questions, those directly affected by impending cuts have to deal with an uncertain future. Cabrillo Recreation Center, located at 3051 Canon St., is named one of nine centers recommended for closure, which would save the city about $2.3 million in personnel and maintenance costs. Walter Heyward, who’s worked as a camp director at Cabrillo Rec for more than 10 years, said he’s disappointed the center might close. He said the after-school program he runs has grown from about 15 students to approximately 45 kids from five elementary schools. “I have a lot of parents bring their kids … they just like the programs,” Heyward said. While the facility’s programs may have grown over the years, Park and Recreation officials said the Cabrillo Rec Center is considered one of the smaller facilities, which is why it could be closed, as it wouldn’t affect as many services, according to David Monroe, a deputy director for community parks with the city. He said athletic fields, basketball courts and some athletic programs would remain open, but no equipment would be available for use. “They would have to bring their own basketballs,” Monroe said. “These are tough times and no reduction or cut is an easy cut. It’s just tough,” The mayor’s plan also calls for closing one library in each council district except for District 8. The Ocean Beach Library, which just celebrated its 80th anniversary last month, was listed as the District 2 library for closure. Friends of Ocean Beach Library member George Murphy said there’s always a line to use the computers at the library and doesn’t want to see the community resource shuttered. He said this is the only library many patrons can get to because they either walk or ride bicycles. “We’re not sure that we can stop this, but we want to let OB know that this is happening and … speak out and let these politicians know we’re not pleased with it,” he said. According to the mayor’s proposal, other department cuts include: • Removal of fire rings from along Mission Bay. • Reducing staffing and operation hours at Robb Field and other skate parks from 48 to 40 hours a week. • Eliminate the extra Mission Beach trash collection during summer months. • Elimination of about 216 full-time city positions. To view a copy of the mayor’s midyear budget reductions, visit www.sandiego.gov.