City Services and Community Events: What Matters Most to You?

The city will cut its general fund by roughly one-third in the coming fiscal year, resulting in a 40 percent in city staff; a drop in basic services; and cancelled special community events.

In the coming weeks, city staff and city council will have the tough job of selecting which services to drop and which—if any—community events to keep.

Hercules Patch wants to hear from Herculeans about the community services and events that are most important to you and why.

Here is a list of departments faced with cuts to staff and services:

• Police—Patrol, Administration, Programs (such as Police Explorers).

• Parks and Recreation—Farmers Market, Operation of Swim Center, Teen Center, Youth-Teen Resource Center, Facility Rentals, Recreation Classes, Sports Programs, Lupine, Ohlone and Hanna Ranch Child Care, Tiny Tots.

• Building—Code Enforcement, Building Permits.

• Municipal Services—Redevelopment, Engineering, Public Works, Affordable Housing, Hercules Municipal Utility.

• City Clerk—Document Archives, Agendas and Meeting Videos, Elections.

• Finance—Budgets, Comprehensive Annual Review, Business Licences.

Special community events facing possible cancellation:

• Cultural Festival
• Fourth of July celebration
• Community Clean-up Day 
• Farmers' Market
• City of Hercules and Hercules Titans Boosters Golf Tournament

*Earlier, this article said none of the community events turn a profit. New numbers show that the golf tournament makes between $5,393-$20,000. We are checking with Parks and Recreation for confirmation.