Detroit to cut 1,000 city worker positions by late Feb: mayor

[The Northerner]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said on Friday that 1,000 city worker positions, or about 9 percent of the total, would be cut, two days after he said the city would run out of cash by April without broad wage and benefit cuts and a corporate tax increase.

Layoff notices are expected to go out starting in early December and the jobs eliminated by February 25 to save Detroit about $14 million in the current fiscal year, Bing said in a statement.

He had warned on Wednesday that Detroit faced a $45 million cash shortfall by the end of the fiscal year in June 2012 without reductions that would include pay cuts for police and fire department workers.

Bing said on Wednesday the cuts were needed to avoid the city falling under a state-appointed emergency manager, which would take control over Detroit from local residents.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/18/us-detroit-finances-idUSTRE7AH1TD20111118