Police Department Spokesman Sergeant Matt Young insists the potential cuts won’t impact their response to urgent situations. 

"When there’s a violent crime in process, someone’s breaking into your home we’re still very, very good at getting there very quickly." 

But if someone is breaking into your home and you call 911… 

"…there could be a longer wait in answering the phone." 

Department officials need to cut their budget by eight percent to help the city deal with a $58 million shortfall. So they’re proposing cutbacks at the 911 dispatch center, and in the records division…which means it’ll take longer for crime victims to file a report. 

They’re also looking at slashing overtime and reserve officer positions…something that North Natomas neighborhood activist Angelique Ashby isn’t happy about. 

"Anything that makes it harder for the police to protect us doesn’t seem helpful." 

She says the public understands bad budget times… 

"...but it just seems like there has to be a better way to address this gap in finances than to cut public safety measures. And yet it seems to be the area that we always come back to." 

Police Department officials are expected to present their proposed cuts to city officials within the next week. If approved they could go into effect by the end of the month.