Williams administration answers questions on 2009 city budget


YOUNGSTOWN — City administration officials met with union leaders to discuss ways to avoid layoffs, but both sides acknowledge that it’s inevitable city workers will lose their jobs.

The meeting, that lasted about 2 hours and 45 minutes today, primarily focused on administrators answering questions the union leaders had about the city’s 2009 general fund budget, said those who attended the private discussion.

The option to meet again is there, but nothing is scheduled.

“It was productive from the standpoint that we got a better understanding of the budget, something we would have liked to have had a year ago,” said Cicero Davis, president of the union that represents clerical and secretarial employees. “But I don’t foresee the meeting stopping the city from making initial layoffs.”

The budget calls for $860,000 in personnel cuts, most of it from the police department. That could mean up to 34 city workers, including 22 to 26 police officers, losing their jobs. Two-week layoff notices are expected to be delivered April 15.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com

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