COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mayor Mike Coleman and Columbus city council met Wednesday afternoon to discuss proposals for balancing the city's 2009 budget.
NBC 4's Ana Jackson reported with the FAST FACTS.
Coleman announced additional layoffs Wednesday -- one day after announcing that the city's new police recruits were laid off before graduating.
Twelve employees from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Columbus Municipal Association Of Government Employees(CMAGE); and one other union were to be laid off, saving $500,000. The unions involved represent laborers and middle management, Jackson reported.
Jackson spoke with a CMAGE union representative who said he was never notified about the impending layoffs. He said he was completely shocked by the news. He said this is a grave concern and possibly a direct threat to the unions.
Apparently, CMAGA also was in contract negotiations with the city.
Coleman also implemented a five-day temporary layoff for non-uniformed city personnel. Although Coleman is not sure how the temporary layoffs will be implemented, he said the move will save the city $1.6 million.
Officials said the temporary layoffs will affect 1,200 to 1,300 employees from the general fund. Employees from other city funds are excluded.
City officials said they will do their best to prevent interrupting public services.
The union layoffs plus Columbus firefighters' pay-raise delay and recruit layoffs will save the city a combined $6.4 million.
Coleman said the cuts weren't over because he has to make up $13 million total -- leaving another $6.6 million to account for the rest of the deficit.
A spokesperson for the city said the unions were not notified because the cuts affect everyone -- not just them. If they would have agreed to forgo their raises, the mayor wouldn't have to lay anyone off because he would have made enough money cuts with the raises.
Coleman said that no one -- even sworn officers -- will be excluded from future cuts and added that there will be more announcements in the coming weeks.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information in this developing story.
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