The city is facing not only a water shortage, but also a budget shortfall that is much worse the previously predicted, announced Ronald Lacey of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ office. “This is a tough time at the city,” Lacey said. The city’s estimated deficit of $60 million has ballooned to $85 million, he said. The city is seeking $453 million for underground pipes, which will not only increase capacity and pressure, but also create jobs, according to Lacey. He believes that a new streamlined City Hall structure will also improve San Diego’s financial situation. Centralizing city services and “going green” could ultimately save money, he said. City Council is being asked to sign off on consultants for the project, he said. The city’s projected $85 million deficit and the state’s budget woes are expected to reduce the number of police. Asked how the shortfall could affect local staffing levels, Capt. Shelley Zimmerman of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said that Chief William Lansdowne’s goal is to staff patrol units so they can respond to high-priority calls. There could be losses in detective units and task forces, Zimmerman said. Police will rely on various departments on the Fourth of July. Police will have six command posts throughout the beach area, including Reed Street and Belmont Park. “That’s our Super Bowl for the beach,” said Zimmerman. “We want to hold offenders accountable but we also want to encourage compliance,” Zimmerman said. Police plan to “maintain a high enforcement profile,” she said. PBTC director Marcie Beckett said residents should not hesitate to call the police to report a problem. “If you don’t call, the police will never know there’s a problem,” Beckett said. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” For more information on starting a Neighborhood Watch program, call the PBTC office at (858) 483-6666. Residents can also get involved with cleaning up their neighborhoods by picking up those unsightly cigarette butts that line many of Pacific Beach’s streets and much of its beaches. “They’re the number one item we find at all our cleanup events,” said Natalie Roberts of I Love a Clean San Diego. As part of an ongoing effort to keep the butts off the streets and beaches and out of the water, ILACD plans to provide permanent ash receptacles with educational labels like “This is litter too” at key areas on Grand and Garnet avenues. The non-profit also plans to distribute 400 steel-lined pocket ashtrays that snap shut after ashes have been deposited. The town council will hold a cleanup at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 6. Participants will meet at the foot of Grand Avenue, north of the lifeguard tower. > The PBTC will hold its next general membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Taylor Library. The public is encouraged to attend.