[Source: Scott Wong, Arizona Republic] — Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said the city is eliminating 1,200 positions next fiscal year, part of its effort to slash the budget by $250 million because of the ailing economy and a drop off in tax collections. It was the first time the mayor had acknowledged how many jobs would be axed from the $1.2 billion budget. Most of those staffing cuts will be through attrition. The mayor also said he and staffers in his office will voluntarily work one day each month without pay — and he will be asking every city employee to do the same. And Gordon will meet with labor unions to request that employees forego pay raises for one year to avoid layoffs.
The grim outlook came during a news conference where Gordon rolled out a three-point plan — Phoenix Work Projects Advancement — to help the city regain firm financial footing. In addition to budget cuts, the plan calls for the development of new revenue sources as well as requesting state and federal funding for local public works projects. Those infrastructure projects would create construction, engineering and other jobs, generate tax revenue, and provide an instant boost to the economy, Gordon said. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
Downtown Voices Coalition 