(Justin Willis Reporting)
The Fresno City budget for the coming fiscal year has been approved by the Fresno City Council.
The new budget does not call for any further cuts to police or firefighters, but not every city employee is safe.
20 to 30 city employee jobs could be impacted because of this budget, which is less than what the mayor projected last week, but still, city employees are calling it a sad day.
Besides police and fire, the budget also spared parks and recreation and the senior hot meals program.
Another focal point for council members was to pay off debt and improve the city's credit rating.
Council member Lee Brand says they were able to take care of a majority of the city's budget shortfall with one time funding. Some of that comes from the sale of the Radisson Conference Center, and some comes from property and sales tax revenue.
Councilman Lee Brand said, "I'm hoping this is the last time we have to lay people off. That this marks the beginning of the end, we're starting to climb out of this severe recession and all the mistakes of the past."
The budget was approved by a 4-3 vote. Council President Blong Xiong and council members Oliver Baines and Sal Quintero wanted to use the one time funding to avoid layoffs.
Now that this budget is done, the council is bracing for future budget issues like high pension costs.