“Yes. When liberal municipalities or states run out of OPM, (note Conservatives ones don’t) they immediately slash: NOT welfare and other entitlements but safety, fire, police, etc.”
While as a general truth, what you say applies to state government in spades, the cities, OTOH don’t spend their money on welfare and they do have “contracts” which preclude unilateral reductions in benes to their employees. I’ve read extensively about the current spate of municipal bankruptcies here in California and the one thing that they have in common is that they “public safety” employment is at least 80% of their budgets. So, in a nutshell, when they run out of money, they have no option but to cut the cops. The firefighters are another deal because here they usually have independent FP districts that are separate from the municipal government. The real issue is what we are going to pay cops going forward, what they get in retirement, and when they retire. Now, it’s at age 50 with a full ride into eternity and that just can’t stand. I recall in Vallejo, that a police lieutenent was getting $311k per year in pay and benefits, and he could sail off into the sunset at 50 with most of that staying with him.
>>While as a general truth, what you say applies to state government in spades, the cities, OTOH don’t spend their money on welfare and they do have “contracts” <<
I thought you might be wrong but I looked up Los Angeles’ budget and sure enough 72% goes to Police (55%) and Fire (17%). And, having just moved from there, I can tell you that you can’t get a cop to come to your house inside an hour even if it is a multiple murder scene.