SPD union might just bankrupt Stockton
What do Stockton police want?
The city of Stockton and its main police union were back in court Friday in the latest skirmish in the union's suit to challenge the city's right to cut their pay.
The union's attack is to challenge the city's declaration of fiscal emergency. The city contends this declaration gives it the right to break its contract with police and impose crucial cuts.
The union contends the city can't break the contract.
If the union prevails, the city would be legally obligated to pay its members' back pay. That would be - estimates vary - $9.1 million to $10 million.
Such a ruling would be bad news for the city. The city has only $1 million in reserves. It is struggling to pay off giant debts. Costs such as retiree medical are rising.
Furthermore, city finance experts fear the city has not hit bottom: property values will continue to decline, they believe; so will property tax revenues. The city will face deficits in the coming year.