HAS LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO CLOSE THAT BUDGET GAP. >> AND SO SOME ARE WONDERING WHY THIS MOVE DIDN'T COME SOONER. >> TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT IS SHORT ON DETAILS, AND SO FAR THE MAYOR HAS OFFERED NO KIND OF NO TYPE OF LONG TERM FISCAL PLAN MOVING FORWARD. IN A STATEMENT, THE CITY'S OFFICE OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR ANNETTE GUZMAN SAID THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO NAVIGATE THESE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS. THE CITY GOVERNMENT HIRING FREEZE, ALONG WITH STRICT LIMITATIONS ON NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, COMES AS THE CITY FACES A MORE THAN $220 MILLION SHORTFALL. THIS YEAR AT A NEARLY $1 BILLION DEFICIT FOR 2025, DRIVEN IN PART BY RISING PERSONNEL AND PENSION COSTS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC FEDERATION SAYS THE CITY IS IN A FISCAL CRISIS, BUT SAYS THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEED OUT WASTE AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION OF A PROPERTY TAX HIKE. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE THERE IS FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. >> PART OF THIS, THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THIS, THE CITY IS ABSOLUTELY FILLED TO THE GILLS WITH ALL SORTS OF WASTE IN INEFFICIENCY. >> THE CITY HAS FROZEN HIRING BEFORE, BUT POLICE AND FIRE HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN EXEMPT. IT'S UNCLEAR IF THAT'S THE CASE THIS TIME AROUND. THE CITY HAS NOT ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. BOTH THE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER UNIONS HAVE LONG COMPLAINED OF UNDERSTAFFING, AND THERE'S CONCERN A HIRING FREEZE WILL ONLY WORSEN THAT PROBLEM. >> EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE ON THE TABLE AND A HIRING FREEZE FOR NON-ESSENTIALS. >> WE CERTAINLY SHOULD BE DOING . >> BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S GOT ME CONCERNED. >> THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR YEARS, TELLS US ANY HIRING FREEZE WOULD PILE ADDITIONAL WORK ON ALREADY OVERBURDENED PARAMEDICS AND FIREFIGHTERS. WE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CITY'S BUDGET