ARVIN, Calif. -- A proposed round of layoffs is ruffling feathers in Arvin. Tuesday night, the city council will vote whether to layoff four high-ranking city employees in an effort to balance the budget.

The layoffs include the head of the building and planning department, the head of public works, and the second highest ranking officer in the police department.

Some say the layoffs could be racially motivated.

The city of Arvin has a $155,000 budget deficit. After months of trying to balance the budget, the city manager says the only option left is employee layoffs.

"As an administrator we don’t think of layoffs in terms of people we think of layoffs in terms of the position." Arvin City Manager Tim Chapa said.

Chapa's first proposal for layoffs was rejected by city council because they felt it included too many entry-level positions. This proposal is almost all management positions.

“It eliminates those three entry-level positions that were part of the first proposal, and it now includes what I would call a mid-management position, a lieutenant position, and it now includes a director position," Chapa said.

Chapa estimates the layoffs would get the budget balanced. But some don’t like the experience and expertise that will be lost. Like Lt. Olan Armstrong. He's been on the police department 32 years.

"That’s a lot of experience, that’s a lot of corporate knowledge about the city of Arvin and its law enforcement procedures and policies," said Arvin Redevelopment Associate Mike Kunz.

Kunz is also on the chopping block. He is the city's one-man redevelopment department.

"There are only five people in this building. Two of them would be gone," Kunz said.

Kunz also wonders if racism might be behind the choice of who could be getting laid off.

"Three of the four are white. None of the people are Hispanic," Kunz said.

It’s an accusation Chapa flatly denies.

"The basis for the analysis that I did was by position and it was color blind. It didn’t take into account anyone's nationality or personality either," Kunz said.

Kunz says if the layoffs are approved by council, he may be forced to file a discrimination lawsuit.

“I don’t know that I would have any choice, unfortunately. I don’t want to do that," Kunz said.

Kunz says age could also be a factor in the layoffs because three of the four people on the list are over 50.