Layoffs at City Hall

May 01

Uncategorized mel@georgiafordemocracy.orgAdd comments

Beginning tomorrow, more than 400 city workers will be laid off as part of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s proposed 2009 budget. Also included in her budget are a proposed property tax increase to balance a budget with an expected $140 million shortfall.

Workers described the mood at City Hall today as “tense” and “testy”. No one knows yet who will be cut. It’s a terrible thing for someone to lose their job, but Mayor Franklin should have initiated staff cuts years ago, by attrition, before she was forced to take such drastic action.

Franklin: Layoffs, property tax increase needed
Beginning Thursday, more than 400 city jobs on chopping block

Atlanta City Council members: Mayor mum on layoffs
Four council members said they have yet to be consulted on the budget’s impact

When city budgets get tough, arts and recreation programs are typically among the first to get cut.

Comments (5)

Comments on this Entry:

(Smitty on
Apr 30, 2008 10:34 PM)

layoffs or are they being moved to the Airport’s payroll??? I remember the same “we’re cutting the budget” in 2001 and most of the folks ended up on the Airport’s budget.

(MelGX on
Apr 30, 2008 11:05 PM)

Probably so Smitty. Here’s the quote:

“Atlanta Human Resources Commissioner Benita Ransom said terminated employees will get job placement assistance. She said the city also will consider laid off employees for some vacant positions in Atlanta’s Watershed Management and Aviation departments, which do not rely on the general fund budget to operate. She said the city will have a job fair Friday.”

(Smitty on
Apr 30, 2008 11:10 PM)

Maybe one day the City of Atlanta will get a Mayor who doesn’t use the Airport as a pimp mobile.

(innerredneckexposed on
Apr 30, 2008 11:19 PM)

maybe someday we’ll get a mayor who doesn’t end up disappointing the city?

(innerredneckexposed on
Apr 30, 2008 11:42 PM)

or should I say propose that question to Ice as opposed to the ether.