Oakland city officials mysteriously published then deleted an alarming public report warning the California city is facing bankruptcy. 

On November 8, Oakland's Finance Director Erin Roseman authored the city's 2024/25 fiscal year report, alerting officials that their reckless spending was leading to a 'Chapter 9 process', which comes after a bankruptcy declaration. 

The report noted that Oakland was running at a 12.3 percent operating shortfall, and said 'failure to take dramatic and immediate steps to reduce expenditures will almost certainly result in insolvency.' 

But just hours after the document sent shockwaves across the city's political scene,  the report disappeared from the online agenda of Oakland's upcoming City Council meeting. 

Officials then published a revised version, which removed all refences to bankruptcy including any mention of 'Chapter 9' or requiring 'insolvency.' 

After the revision raised eyebrows, the city explained in a statement on Monday that the report was an 'unapproved draft' that was 'inadvertently and briefly published.' 

Oakland downplayed the alarming findings and said that 'internal analysis concluded that the Chapter 9 level of decision making was, and remains, premature at this time.' 

'However, that analysis does not in any way diminish the urgency of the financial discussion that needs to be held at City Council,' a spokesperson added, per Mercury News. 

Although Oakland officials were quick to downplay the concerning report, it comes at a time when city insiders warn it is grappling with a severe and urgent financial crisis. 

Living standards in Oakland have notably declined in recent years amid a spike in crime, homelessness and vagrancy, with Mayor Sheng Thao hit with a recall effort in the election this year. 

According to Mercury News, the budget problems are expected to result in a deficit reaching almost $115 million when the current fiscal year ends in June.