Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 53F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..
Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 53F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Updated: April 10, 2026 @ 6:12 pm
The city of San Bruno is making the unprecedented move of laying off employees this year, putting it in the same uncomfortable spot as other hard-up cities on the Peninsula.
It's an extraordinary measure for a city that's held seven vacant positions in the Police Department to avoid laying off any people. Last year, the city even gave four employees three months' worth of salary to walk away voluntarily - it was called the Voluntary Separation Program.
But forced with making another $1.1 million in cuts - for a grand total of $4.8 million in the past two years - it seems like desperate times are calling for desperate measures.
About 10 positions are being carved from the budget, which will result in five layoffs. City Clerk Ed Simon, who has worked for San Bruno for about 20 years, said it's the first time he can remember people actually losing their jobs.
The cuts will come from maintenance and administrative positions in the city's Parks and Recreation and Human Resources departments.
The layoffs will become effective July 1.
San Bruno isn't the only city taking the plunge this year. In tightly-knit Belmont, city officials are also struggling with the tough prospect of having to layoff about eight employees for the first time in any city officials' memory. Before the announcements were made, department heads sat down one-on-one with their employees to tell them about the situation. Employees are being given emotional and financial counseling to help them deal with their new situations.
Even with the layoffs, however, San Bruno's problems are far from over.
On June 15, San Bruno is holding a special budget study session to review the possibility of adopting a 911 user fee that would tax every phone line in San Bruno $1.50 a month. The fee could generate up to $700,000 in revenue.
Yunmi Choi can be reached by e-mail at yunmi@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
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