SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The fire disaster is top of mind as the City of San Diego allocates their yearly budget. This comes as the City of Los Angeles has been widely criticized for their handling of recent Santa Ana winds and fires burning through several of their communities after cutting $17 million from the fire fighting budget.   San Diego is now facing a $258 million deficit and the mayor is deciding which city departments will see cutbacks. “We will have to cut existing city services in order meet our city’s legal obligation to balance our city’s budget," said Mayor Todd Gloria. "That said, I’m very clear that public safety is our city’s number one responsibility of the government. When it comes to choosing between cutting things like our police department, or fire department, or lifeguards, or our paramedics, or another service -- we will be cutting another service." Massive smoke plume billows from Los Angeles — is it headed toward San Diego? All departments have been asked to explore 20% cutbacks while police and fire departments have been asked to explore 5% cutbacks. “It’s never a good idea to cut fire rescue services. Los Angeles is learning this tragically. It’s imperative that San Diego does not repeat these mistakes,” said Capt. George Duardo, the President of San Diego Fire union 145. City council members will also have to vote on a final budget deal. “As the councilmember representing one of the most high fire prone areas and the public safety chair, it’s my job to fight to make sure our public safety apparatus is ready to go and our teams have what they need," said Marni Von Wilpert a San Diego City councilmember. "And I’m going to make sure our firefighters do have what they need to respond to emergencies.” As for the confidence in our fire suppression ground game against Santa Ana wind-driven fires, Capt. Duardo said San Diego has powerful partners when it comes to mutual aid. “It’s collaborating with the military, the National Guard," he explained. "It’s our partners, we have a very good mutual aid system."