8 months ago
Friday brought troubling news for dozens of Macon city employees.
City of Macon managers notified 31 employees who'll lose their jobs in January.
Mayor Robert Reichert signed an executive order on Thursday cutting 67 city jobs, including 31 layoffs.
Reichert plans to meet with all 31 as a group Monday.
The mayor says the job cuts will save about $900,000 for the rest of this fiscal year and about $2.6 million in future years.
The order also reduces hours for three city employees.
Reichert says the money saved will help fund a pay scale for city employees and pay for other unfunded projects.
Reichert gave a letter to city department heads Friday, listing 31 city employees who would be laid off on Jan. 15.
"It was difficult, as well as signing the individual letters," he said.
The largest set of department layoffs happen in police, with nine cuts; parks and recreation, six, and inspection and fees, three. This week, Reichert said the layoffs won't affect any police officers or firefighters.
Some city employees would not comment on camera but said word of layoffs brought a somber and quiet to their departments.
Reichert said he asked department heads two weeks ago which jobs could be cut without hurting services.
Based on their recommendations, he said, they identified positions to cut... Then... Reichert says he worked with human resources and city administration to analyze the next key factor: seniority.
If a more junior employee did the job better, he said, "seniority is the trump card."
Reichert hopes the layoffs won't hurt city services, but admits people will likely notice a drop in services.
Reichert calls signing the letter to cut jobs his most difficult decision as mayor. But he says the move will serve in the city's best interest.
He says, "I'm dealing with people's lives and impacting people's lives but I have also taken an oath to work for the greater good, the good of the city as a whole."
Reichert's order also listed some vacant positions that won't be filled.
The largest set affects the fire department with 12; public works, nine, parks and recreation, six, plus 12 seasonal public works jobs.
The letter also says three employees in the city attorney's office agreed to reduce their hours and salaries.
To read Reichert's order listing the laid-off employees and job cuts, click on the link to the right.
