Fundamental change

New city manager Charles McNeely said he wants to spend three months getting to learn San Bernardino before proposing major changes to how San Bernardino officials go about their business.

"They'll be fairly significant, I can assure you," McNeely said Tuesday during an interview in his City Hall office.

McNeely and the City Council are set to meet at noon to open budget discussions. McNeely said Tuesday that San Bernardino faces a deficit in the $4 to $5 million range. The situation could become about $3 million worse if California state officials borrow local property tax dollars from local governments to balance Sacramento's budget.