Hercules' police force will be disbanded and a teen recreation program will be eliminated if a tax measure isn't approved, Hercules officials say.
The fiscally dire prediction was made at the City Council meeting Tuesday night as council members discussed Hercules' 2013-2014 budget, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times.
City Finance Director Nickie Mastay prepared two budgets, a $12.9 million version if the Measure A utility user tax increase passes in June and a $12.2 million plan if it doesn't, the Times reported.
Without the measure, Mastay said, the city would likely have to disband its police force and contract with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office. In addition, a teen program under the parks and recreation department would probably be eliminated.
Measure A would hike the city's utility user tax from 6 percent to 8 percent for the next five years.
The proposed budget is the latest development in Hercules' ongoing battle to stay financially afloat.
Last summer, the council approved a $12.6 million budget that eliminated a $1.3 million deficit by using reserve funds.
In March, State Controller John Chiang harshly criticized the city for having what he called poor accounting practices. Chiang said the city might have to pay back $2 million in federal and state grants.
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