South Lake Tahoe’s City Council had a budget meeting Sept. 8. One of the more alarming things to come out of it is that unemployment stands at 15 percent in the city — which is more than the state and federal numbers.

With the Lake Tahoe Basin entering the shoulder season — when layoffs from summer are the norm before ski season begins — that figure is likely to escalate.

The city’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1. In the last budget the city had revenue for hotel taxes going up. The reality is the reverse happened.

Even though other city’s and the state have furlough days in place, South Lake Tahoe has been reticent to implement such a policy.

Public hearings on the budget will be scheduled soon.