* This event was recorded on May 7, 2020 *

Local governments across California have seen their budgets gutted by the pandemic-induced recession, but they aren’t likely to have much luck turning to voters for a handout. A new Public Policy Institute of California poll found that voters are not in a giving mood when it comes to new bond and tax measures.

That follows an unprecedentedly bad year for city and school fiscal measures in the March election, with voters rejecting more than half of ballot box fundraisers for the first time in decades. So just how bad a situation is this for California’s cities and what other options do locals have?

CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher moderates a virtual discussion about how the pandemic is gutting California cities' budgets.

PANELISTS
* John Dunbar, Mayor of Yountville in Napa County, and board president of the League of California Cities
* Kevin Faulconer, Mayor of San Diego

WHO SAID WHAT WHEN
* 0 to 5:15 min - Intro to CalMatters, and the depressing-but-important reasons why we're holding this conversation
* 5:15 min - When the Mayors realized the pandemic was going to hit their budgets -- and what's the current "horrific" situation
* 13 min - What city services will be affected first -- and when residents will feel the impact
* 16 min - Will budget cuts affect public safety and wildfire resources?
* 20 min - How the pandemic is affecting tourism and city life in the Mayors' towns
* 26:35 min - How many California cities have reserves to cushion the budget blows?
* 28:20 min - A big roadblock of the federal CARES Act that hamstrings the big cities receiving relief funding
* 31:40 min - What are the smaller cities and towns that didn't get CARES funding going to do?
* 34:25 min - Will state legislators and city officials work together better now that we're entering this economic crisis?
* 39:30 min - Can cities turn to voters in November for help?
* 43:40 min - The long-term outlook for city budgets