SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento leaders are moving to close a $66 million budget gap while trying to preserve programs many residents say are essential, voting to restore funding for pools and violence prevention services even as they prepare to raise fees across the city.
After hours of debate and public comment, the City Council agreed Tuesday night to maintain swim hours, wading pools and nearly $1.3 million in violence prevention grants for community organizations. The decisions come as officials continue adjusting the city’s spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
Last month, the city manager had proposed cutting positions, reducing parks services, limiting pool hours and scaling back youth violence prevention funding as part of efforts to close Sacramento’s $66 million deficit. The proposal drew pushback from residents…