Sacramento leaders debates budget cuts to skate park, police department

Mathew Miranda, The Sacramento Bee on May 14, 2025

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento’s 28th & B Skate Park and vacant positions within the police department headlined Tuesday night’s budget discussion.

The City Council meeting marked the first time elected leaders and residents could publicly voice their concerns with the proposed $1.65 billion budget unveiled last month by Interim City Manager Leyne Milstein. The spending plan balanced the city’s $44 million deficit with a mix of fee increases and reduction strategies across departments.

Among the suggestions are layoffs, eliminating vacant positions, raising parking fees and reduced funding for youth programs. Some of these strategies — most notably less money for youth and the use of vacancies — faced pushback from multiple council members and Sacramentans.

“Do we have a budget deficit?” asked Councilmember Mai Vang. “Yes, but I will also say perhaps we have a values deficit as well in the city, so that’s something that we need to be brave enough to have that conversation.”

Vang focused her comments on the 194 vacant positions in the city’s Police Department, which it uses to fund tens of millions of dollars in overtime pay annually.

Vang called on the council to explore reducing more of these vacancies versus relying on layoffs for the first time since 2013. Seven city employees could face layoffs under the proposed budget, said Sacramento Finance Director Pete Coletto on Tuesday.

“Before we layoff any filled position individuals in our city who take home a paycheck to purchase food for their families, provide housing for their loved ones, we need to have the courage to be able to absorb vacancies in the Police Department,” Vang said.

Removing more vacancies would affect “service levels that our community has grown to expect,” said Milstein. Under her budget, the Police Department would have 26 vacant positions eliminated and grow its budget from $247 million to $255 million — the largest in the city.

Police Chief Katherine Lester weighed in later, saying removing all the department’s vacancies would be “catastrophic.” She said overtime is not ideal, but it is necessary to maintain minimum staffing. Further reductions in vacancies would likely cause longer response times to 911 calls, Lester added.

“We’ve got to be careful comparing public safety to other departments,” Lester said.

Councilmember Lisa Kaplan called on the city to look at reducing vacancies in other areas such as the offices of the city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer. She noted that such cuts must be considered as the city is expected to remain in a structural deficit for the next few years.

“Last year they were not included,” Kaplan said. “They have to be included this year. We are one big family, and the charter requires us that we all work together.”

Multiple public speakers on Tuesday night spoke against the proposed cutback in funding to Sacramento’s 28th & B Skate Park at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park. The skate park is currently open to all ages and charges a $5 admission.

Per the budget, the skate park would see a reduction in “internal hours of operation” and utilize contracted instructors for programming instead of a city staff attendant. Assistant City Manager Ryan Moore on Tuesday said the skate park would experience no change in its hours. The proposed strategies would save the city roughly $60,000 in expenditures.

Sean LaTour-Jarquin, founder and executive director of Project Lifelong, said this skate park is the only location with shade in the greater Sacramento area. He said this is crucial on days when the region experiences rain or extreme heat.

“You’re making a decision to take away the only public space for thousands of skateboarders,” LaTour-Jarquin said.

A private contractor could also potentially limit the age of participants, added Councilmember Eric Guerra who asked for staff to return with more information.

“How do you address the concern that that all ages might not be allowed,” Guerra asked.

The City Council will continue holding public meetings this month before adopting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Two meetings will be held next Tuesday, with the first at 11 a.m. and the second at 5 p.m.

The council is expected to adopt a final version of the spending plan on June 10.

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