COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The tremors of the multi-million dollar budget shortfall are still being felt throughout city unions Thursday.
Mayor Michael Coleman laid of f 27 police recruits, 12 laborers and middle management positions and announced a temporary layoff for all non-uniformed workers this week. Those workers will not report to work for five days in 2009 for which they will not be paid.
Mayor Coleman's office contended it is his job to propose an idea, and city council's job to make a final decision on it.
But AFSCME and CMAGE -- the two unions that would be affected by the proposal said they don't like the way it was handled, NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt reported.
"Everyone is sacrificing to get through this budget," said Dan Williamson, of Coleman's office.
Officials said they don't know how exactly the temporary layoff will work and said that now is not the time to work out specifics.
City council would have to first approve the $1.65 million saving idea.
But NBC 4 learned that waste haulers and other services residents rely on will have to take part.
"Certainly all those things have to be considered. We will do it in a way that minimizes the effect on the public as much as possible," Williamson said.
The City of Toledo is going through a similar experience as between 800 and 1,000 employees will take an unpaid five-day furlough in 2009 to save money.
CMAGE leaders said they are surprised and disappointed that the city would make an announcement like this without giving them a courtesy call.
The group said they are still working diligently to create a solution for the city, regardless of the "sensational media releases" made by the city's administration.
NBC 4 asked the mayor's office why the groups were notified prior to the announcement.
"(Coleman) did talk to them first. He said if you sacrifice your raises and your service credits, we don't have to make any decisions like this. AFSCME and CMAGE made that decision," Williamson said.
Coleman's office said that how the proposal ended up as a potential cost-cutting measure.
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