“California City” —
In Wednesday night, the California City Council voted to eliminate positions in four city agencies in an effort to save over $1 million. Much more crucial, though, is an upcoming vote that will determine the fate of the desert city’s economy.
Council members decided to eliminate nineteen positions across four key divisions, including public works and the police department, by a vote of 4-1. Jim Creighton, the one councilman who spoke out against the layoffs, discussed his moral compass with Eyewitness News.
After outlining his thinking, Creighton brought up issues related to the city’s present and future employment. Critiquing the intentions of California City Mayor Kelly Kulikoff to reduce payroll even further.
“[K. Kulikoff] anticipates, like he said last night, close to 30 more cuts,” according to Creighton. “19 plus 39 is probably close to about half our staff.”
The failure of a special election to enact a ballot measure before the end of July could lead to further layoffs. It is basically the same as the one the city had in March but decided against.
Now is the time to cast your vote on a six-year property tax in California City. If approved, this tax will provide funding for the city’s fire, police, and emergency medical services departments. Would the city then stop running such departments if the referendum fails?
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That is, not precisely, and not at this time. Though that was Mayor Kulikoff’s main worry when he spoke with Eyewitness News in May. It worries Mayor Kulikoff that Kern County won’t assume control of administrative tasks until the city runs out of money.
“You have to completely be drowning and dead in the water and say I cannot get up,” he stated. “[Then] they will come in and they will takeover.”
Although Creighton acknowledges the grim future, he finds reason to be somewhat positive by mentioning grants that the city is chasing from federal and state suitors. Investigative news outlet Eyewitness News wanted to know how much longer it could be before Kern County cleared the city. Despite this, his response was pessimistic.
According to Creighton, “I have no idea.” “I have never contemplated this in my entire time I have lived in California City.”
A message was sent to Mayor Kulikoff, Councilmember Michael Kulikoff, and Mayor Pro Tem Ronald Smith by Eyewitness News, but no response was received.