City of Duluth announces layoffs
Needing to resolve a $6.5 million deficit by the end of the year, the City of Duluth has announced 169 reductions in full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal work staff including 28 full-time positions, 24 part-time positions, 105 temporary positions and 12 seasonal positions.
Mayor Don Ness (right) and his administration have been working diligently throughout the week to limit the number of layoffs necessary. Administration seeks to impose four mandatory unpaid days off for non-public safety employees in order to reduce the number of full-time employee layoffs by 19 positions.
The effort to avoid further layoffs will require cooperation from all parties. Numerous cost-saving initiatives have been implemented or proposed to the City Council. Mayor Ness said success will rely on a partnership between the City Council, the city’s unions, and the public. Any failed efforts or additional costs incurred will likely result in further layoffs.
“It is a very sad day in the City of Duluth,” Mayor Ness said. “While the progress we’ve made in our work to limit layoffs in this round has been heartening, this will have an impact on employees and the services we provide to the public. I pray that we can avoid additional layoffs in the coming months and we will be doing everything we can to avoid them. I cannot stress strongly enough that avoiding additional layoffs will require great effort and cooperation.”
The City will conduct three additional extensive budget assessments in the next two months to determine if further layoffs are necessary. These assessments will examine cost projections and the implementation of cost saving measures. The city will conduct these assessments on September 2, September 15 and during the first week of October.
“We need everyone to contribute to solving this budget crisis,” Mayor Ness added. “The task ahead is daunting and we cannot afford to be distracted by politics and unnecessary drama.”
A list of reductions by department follows:
City of Duluth staff reductions
Full-time positions
Administrative Services – 6 positions
Finance – 2 positions
Building Safety – 1 position
Library – 9 positions
Parks and Recreation – 5 positions
Public Works and Utilities – 5 positions
Total full-time - 28
Part-time positions
Library – 24 positions
Total part-time - 24
Temporary positions
Parks and Recreation – 53 positions
Building Safety – 1 position
Administrative Services – 2 positions
Police – 1 position
Public Works and Utilities – 48 positions
Total temporary - 105
Seasonal positions
Public Works and Utilities – 12 positions
Total seasonal - 12
– Source: City of Duluth press release