Desert City Crisis: Jobs cut by California City officials ask questions of city’s future

CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. — (KBAK/FOX58) The City Council of California City voted Wednesday night to cut jobs from four city departments in hopes of saving more than $1 million dollars. However, a more important vote on the future of the desert city’s livelihood looms.

The council voted 4-1 to cut nineteen jobs from four major departments including the city’s police department and public works department. The lone councilmember who voted against the job cuts, Jim Creighton, spoke with Eyewitness News about his decision. Creighton explained his reasoning, citing concerns of the city’s current and future workforce. Taking issue with California City Mayor Kelly Kulikoff’s plans to cut even more jobs.

“[K. Kulikoff] anticipates, like he said last night, close to 30 more cuts,” Creighton said. “19 plus 39 is probably close to about half our staff.”

There may be more job cuts to come if an end of July ballot measure is not passed in a special election. It is similar to the measure the city had in March, but rejected.

This time it is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on a six year tax on real property in California City that would fund the city’s fire, police and emergency medical services departments. So, would the city cease operating those departments if the vote does not pass? Not exactly, or not yet. But that was the concern expressed by Mayor Kulikoff in a May interview with Eyewitness News. Mayor Kulikoff concerned that Kern County will not take over administrative operations until the city is left without financial resources.

“You have to completely be drowning and dead in the water and say I cannot get up,” Kulikoff said. “[Then] they will come in and they will takeover.”

Creighton is slightly more optimistic citing grants that the city is pursuing from federal and state suitors but does not deny the bleak future. Eyewitness News asked how far away the city could be from being absolved by Kern County. His answer still gave a grim outlook.

“I have no idea,” Creighton said. “I have never contemplated this in my entire time I have lived in California City.”

Eyewitness News reached out to Mayor Kulikoff, Councilmember Michael Kulikoff and Mayor Pro Tem Ronald Smith but did not hear back.