1/24: Boston schools brace for teacher layoffs

In recent weeks, Salem has attracted widespread attention because of a budget crisis that resulted in a $4.7 million midyear shortfall, prompting the layoff of dozens of teachers.

Although no other local community is taking such drastic steps, next year’s outlook may include more bad news for teachers. Governor Deval Patrick is proposing a $223 million increase in state school spending for next year – a 6 percent increase – and it can’t come soon enough.

1/24: 2 Police layoffs at Holliston, MA

If the Police Department is forced to adhere to the Finance Committee’s guidelines for next year’s budget, two layoffs appear inevitable, Police Chief Thomas Lambert told selectmen this week.

“The budget cuts are going to involve deep public safety issues,” selectmen Chairman Andrew Porter said before the chief’s budget presentation Monday night.

1/24: Budget cuts may result in layoffs at Ohio

Faced with a potential budget deficit of nearly $1.9 billion, Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday said he asked agency directors to “find ways to save money” and wouldn’t rule out layoffs or closing state institutions.

No single economic indicator was blamed for the projected slow growth. The same reasons behind the national slowdown — a declining housing market, higher unemployment, higher energy prices, the slide in the stock market — are in play here, but states like Ohio and Michigan get rocked further because of a recession in the auto industry.

1/23 Layoffs loom for DeKalb city workers

Half of DeKalb’s 230 employees jammed council chambers last Monday, after receiving notice late last week of 10-20 “permanent layoffs.”

At a news conference before the meeting, City Manager Mark Biernacki, and assistant city manager, Rudy Espiritu, noted there is a half million dollar shortfall in the budget this year, and the figure is projected to be $1.5 million in next year’s budget. Espiritu said the budget is being held together now by dipping into the city’s Reserve Fund.

1/18 USF layoffs to hit many

TAMPA – The University of South Florida plans to cut more than $52 million from its budget during the next two years, a grim prospect that likely will force layoffs and could further reduce the number of students accepted.

Half of that comes this year and includes $12.2 million USF has cut as a result of a $1 billion state budget shortfall. Every public service from education to law enforcement has felt the pinch.

That’s just the start, however. State economists predict a $2 billion shortfall next fiscal year, a symptom of Florida’s housing woes that are depleting tax collections. Anticipating those bad times, USF leaders will spend the next two weeks considering how to cut $26 million more out of next fiscal year’s budget.

1/17 Phoenix – 6% layoffs

The City Council voted this week to accept a plan from the city’s budget and research staff to cut its public-safety budget by 3 percent, exempting police officers, firefighters and the personnel who support them.

Phoenix needs to reduce its budget by an estimated $67.1 million over the next 18 months due to diminishing sales-tax revenue in the wake of the housing-industry slowdown.

1/16 Salem Public Schools layoffs: 80

Nearly 80 employees who have been laid off from the Salem Public Schools are scheduled to work their last shift in 10 days.

Roughly 50 aides, clerical staff and nonunion employees were slated to be given their notice yesterday, Superintendent William Cameron said earlier this week. On Friday, 29 classroom teachers were laid off, as well as some school custodian.

1/15 City of Prescott, Arizona to layoff 2, freeze 7

City Manager Steve Norwood says other jobs cuts could happen and positions will only be filled when absolutely necessary. Prescott expects to take in about $1.4 million less than projected in the 2007-2008 budget because of decreases in sales tax, state-shared revenue, and building fees.

1/12 Marion county layoffs

Marion County Building Department. On Saturday, thirty personnel were told their last day on the county payroll would be January 25, 2008.

1/08 Unrelated: Livermore Labs to layoff 500

As a first step to overcome a $300 million budget shortfall, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced Monday it will lay off 500 workers this month.