Detroit mayor: 1,000 job cuts amid budget crisis
DETROIT (AP) - Detroit plans to cut 1,000 jobs by early next year to help deal with the city's budget crisis and avoid the possibility of a state-appointed emergency financial manager...
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit plans to cut 1,000 jobs by early next year to help deal with the city’s budget crisis and avoid the possibility of a state-appointed emergency financial manager, Mayor Dave Bing announced Friday.
The mayor’s office said in a statement that layoff notices will be delivered the week of Dec. 5. Bing said the cuts, which represent 9 percent of the city’s about 11,000 employees, will save about $12 million.
“Solving our cash crisis requires a combination of concessions and tough cuts,” Bing said. “Layoffs will be strategic. We will limit the impact on residents, protecting core services like police and fire protection as much as we can.
“Our fiscal crisis will require everyone to share in the sacrifice. We need support from our residents to help push our unions, businesses, vendors and elected officials to enact the common-sense changes we need.”
On Wednesday, Bing said in a TV and radio address that the city faces a $45 million cash shortfall by the end of its fiscal year in June.
Bing said the positions will be eliminated by Feb. 25. He said additional 2,000 positions have been eliminated since he took office in 2009. And he has outlined concessions needed from unions representing municipal employees, such as ending furlough days and making pension reforms, to save $40 million.
Bing also ordered an immediate hiring freeze for all civil service positions except the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. He said the department was exempted because of court orders involving its operation.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
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