Detroit mayor plans to cut 2,500 city jobs

4/24/2012

DETROIT -- Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Monday laid out a budget proposal that would cut more than 2,500 jobs and shave $250 million in annual expenses after the financially struggling city agreed to state oversight that is aimed at fixing a deficit and long-term debt.

Chief Operating Officer Chris Brown told city council members the layoffs would be in addition to 1,000 job cuts Mr. Bing sought earlier.

He said the city's general fund revenues will decrease from $820.5 million to $739 million.

Detroit now has about 10,800 employees and an overall budget of about $2.5 billion, according to the mayor's office.

Mr. Bing's executive budget proposal also calls for privatizing the city's bus system and transferring its lighting department and airport to an independent authority. The plan also calls for eliminating departments and creating an authority to run them.