More than 300 City of Toledo employees could receive layoff notices

4/16/2009

Layoff notices will start going out Friday or Monday to a significant number of city employees in response to declining tax revenues, according to City Chief of Staff Bob Reinbolt.

Mr. Reinbolt said the number of layoff notices would be "in the ballpark" of 350. He said the 30-day notices would be going out to the affected people.

Officials said they have not decided exactly who to lay off, but it would likely affect all general fund employee groups, with the likely exception of firefighters. The general fund includes police, trash collection, parks, and general government employees, both unionized and exempt. There are about 1,800 employees under the general fund umbrella.

The development comes as negotiations continue with the city s police union, the Toledo Police Patrolman s Association.

Mr. Reinbolt, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner s second in command, said the city has to act begin cutting back on spending because of a threatened $27.7 million deficit this year.

He said action by city council to increase revenues, such as raising the trash collection fee or eliminating 50 percent of the tax credit for people working outside the city, would reduce the number of layoffs.

Also certain to reduce layoffs would be if the employee unions would agree to concessions.