Toledo mayor to announce planto fix city s deficit today

2/12/2009

Toledo s slumping economy is prompting the Finkbeiner administration to direct people to prepare for an announcement today of more budget cuts, but an official said its strategy to close a huge deficit may not be that painful.

Jason Webber, spokesman for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, said the plan to balance the 2008 and 2009 budgets is innovative and that many people would be pleasantly surprised.

The city is looking to make some major cuts to the budget because of a revenue shortfall that pushed the city $8.1 million into the red as it tried to close out the 2008 general fund budget. The spending plan for this year also will undergo revisions to reflect a much bleaker outlook for employment and overall financial health in Toledo.

The mayor is expected to release his plan today during a2 p.m. presentation at the Main Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 North Michigan St.