Story Created:
Sep 8, 2010 at 3:43 PM PST
Story Updated:
Sep 8, 2010 at 3:45 PM PST
INGLEWOOD — The City Council has approved a number of layoffs as it comes to grips with an ever growing structural budget deficit, which according to one top official has now reached $18 million.
The bleak employment and financial news was revealed Sept. 3 by Assistant City Administrator Michael Falkow, after The Wave sought clarification that the entire part-time staff in the Recreations and Parks Department — according to a source who estimates that about 102 people — would be terminated as of Sept. 30.
“That’s not accurate,” said Falkow. “[However] the council voted August 30 to direct staff to eliminate a group of part-time individuals, which was around 80 or 81 people. These are seasonal, part-time and summer workers and maybe 57 or 58 of them are from Parks and Recreations.”
He added: “If they are currently employed they will be officially notified today; if not, they will be notified by certified mail.”
The Wave sought comment from council members Judy Dunlap, Eloy Morales, Ralph Franklin and Mayor-elect Danny Tabor, but calls were not returned by press time.
Talai Smith, local Chapter President of the Service Employees International Union, who last week criticized the hiring of an interim city manager for $25,000 a month, also did not return a call.
Back in April, former Assistant City Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Jeff Muir, gave a comprehensive budget review and financial forecast that estimated the 2009-10 deficit to be approximately $13 million.
However, Falkow said that amount has grown to “about $17.5 to $18 million.”
“Clearly, the council are serious about the subject of the deficit,” he said, adding “that these reductions [layoffs] won’t get close to that.”
But when asked how quickly more job losses among both part-time and full-time staff might be coming down the line, Falkow said he was unable to speculate.
“I don’t know, that depends on your definition of the word ‘quickly,’” he said.
“Theoretically, we need to finalize the budget at the end of the month. The council have given no direction, but it’s highly likely that we will need further reductions to close the budget gap.”
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