Mayor s office notifies 48 of layoffs

5/15/2009
BLADE STAFF

The Finkbeiner administration Friday notified 48 people that their jobs have been eliminated as part of budget cutbacks.

The city has been trying to trim $27.7 million from its budget this year after income tax revenues took a dive in February.

Most of the 48 people were allowed to "bump" into vacant jobs in other departments outside the city s general fund, but 11 people were let go with no immediate likelihood of getting rehired.

Among them were David Amstutz, the director of development, and Jason Webber, the mayor s public information officer.

The laid-off include a foreman in waste disposal, a city planner, electrical inspectors, police records clerks and communications operators, a landfill equipment operator, automotive repair technician, and secretaries.

In all, the general fund has about 1,800 employees.

Not affected by the layoffs were Toledo Municipal Court, Municipal Clerk of Courts, and Toledo City Council, whose budgets are not controlled by the mayor.

The fire department, one of largest departments in the general fund, was also spared from layoffs except for one communications technician.