Council members Blong Xiong and Lee Brand made several motions that could use some unexpected funding sources to reduce the nearly three million dollar deficit. Those motions were welcome news to employee groups who were targeted for layoffs in the budget plan proposed by Fresno's mayor.
"With the motions made today I think there is some hope that they will be able to save the positions they were talking about cutting and also the senior hot meals because we would also hate to see that cut," said Dee Barnes, Fresno City Employees Association President.
The council voted to remove the senior hot meals program from the list of budget cuts proposed by the mayor. The council is also working on a deal with the Fresno Police Officers Association that could save enough money to erase all or part of the deficit.
