Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson says an initial glance indicated the region's largest city will lose about $40 million in state monies over 2012-13.... a larger amount than originally projected.
The cuts are about 25% of the current funding level for next year, and an additional 25% the year following...
That's beyond the anticipated 20% cut Jackson had used in creating what he'd hoped was a balanced 2011 budget, and it severely impacts Cleveland's budgets for the next two years.
The mayor says further belt-tightening is mandatory, and he did not rule out staff layoffs, particularly among bargaining units that are currently negotiating new deals.
MAYOR JACKSON:
"With this kind of projection, that implies that we reach agreement with our collective bargaining units. Now we have with some major unions, and we have a lot of them that are poised, so I'm giving them to early May to reach an agreement. If not, then I'll have to do whatever layoff notice I'd have to do in order to ensure the necessary cost savings."
Jackson called the decisions ahead 'difficult', and said he will make administrative changes, and likewise ask the city council to make similar tough spending decisions.
Jackson was also planning to talk with Safety Director Martin Flask about how the state's complete elimination of Homeland Security dollars will impact Cleveland.
The Governor's budget still must be approved by the state legislature to become binding.
