COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With a $13 million budget gap hovering at City Hall, Mayor Michael Coleman is being forced to make some tough decisions.
After four unions rejected the mayor's proposal to give up salary raises this year, Coleman has been forced to cut several positions and will soon make even more layoffs, NBC 4's Lauren Diedrich reported.
A City Council representative said council members were working late into the day to try to figure out what else the city can cut to make up for its multi-million-dollar budget issue.
Last week, Coleman announced 12 employees would be laid off and that there would be a five-day temporary layoff for non-uniformed city workers.
On Tuesday, 26 Columbus police recruits were laid off before they graduated.
Coleman said the layoffs and temporary layoffs would make up about half the $13 million deficit.
"Nobody in this city is anymore precluded, excluded or insulated from the economic challenges that we have," Coleman said.
Council released the breakdown of the layoffs and cuts at their meeting Monday night, according to NBC 4's Ana Jackson. The proposed breakdown is as follows:
Fire pay raise delay - $2,977,426
Layoff 26 police cadets - $1,251,800
Temporary layoffs - $1,654,762
Additional layoffs - $540,196
Reduce yard waste - $2,100,000
Reduce fuel budget -$1,000,000
Reduce police fleet purchase - $800,000
Police upper management vacancy - $100,000
Strike force reduction - $750,000
Eliminate Columbus Downtown Development Corporation subsidy - $44,810
Sister cities - $45,000
Experience Columbus - $280,500
Auditor - $310,178
Judges - $285,000
Clerk - $100,000
Council - $112,000
Natural gas - $309,522
Buyout surplus - $338,806
The reduced fuel budget is due to decreased fuel prices and the police upper management vacancy means that a deputy chief or commander will not not be replaced when the new police chief is named.
The proposal would eliminate the strike force completely. Experience Columbus wouldl ose their subsidy from their city. The proposed auditor, judges and clerk cuts are vacancies that won't be filled.
City council has the five-day furlough, as well. Natural gas costs were less than anticipated, which accounts for the savings.
Council members will likely also announce to the public if any other programs or departments will face cuts to balance the budget.
The police union said they would attend the meeting, along with family members of the laid-off police recruits.
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