Santa Monica City Council approved Tuesday a plan to restore $6.4 million in funding to programs that city staff had proposed eliminating to fill a $224 million budget deficit over the next two years.

The city also released a draft budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1, showing that about 469 city employees have been bought out or laid off ⁠— 20% of its former workforce of 2,298 full-time equivalent positions. The $607.4 million budget proposed for next fiscal year is nearly 25% smaller than last year’s budget, and projected revenues will be 20% smaller at $537.6 million.

Read More: https://www.smdp.com/city-hall-releases-draft-of-next-years-budget-including-6-4-million-to-continue-programs-up-for-elimination/192107