Saturday, October 9, 2010

2011 Budget Outlook Remains Bleak for Camden New Jersey


Link to October 8 Philadelphia Inquirer article, "Camden's worst-case budget scenario calls for 350-plus layoffs".

Excerpt:   Camden will lay off more than 150 police officers, 77 firefighters, and about 150 other employees unless the mayor can wrest concessions in union contracts in the coming days, according to union officials and employees.

The cuts, described as the worst-case scenario, would amount to more than a third of the city's unionized workforce.

Mayor Dana L. Redd would not provide details of her estimates of the number of layoffs because negotiations with the bargaining units continue.

But she met with firefighters, police officers, and city employees Thursday in separate closed-door meetings to directly explain the harsh budget scenario: After years of bailouts from Trenton to close budget holes, Camden might not get all of the $54 million in state aid it needs to remain solvent.

And even if all that money comes through, the city still could not afford to pay all its employees
.

Related articles:
Fairview branch library is closed for good.  (9/8/2010)
Library board postpones decision on closing branch.  (9/2/2010)
"An oasis in the desert".  (8/15/2010)
Camden New Jersey squeeze play?  (8/11/2010)
Camden mayor plays an odd game of library advocacy.  (8/9/2010)
The library dumpster solution.  (8/6/2010)
Mayor proposes 70% cut in library funding.  (7/19/2010)

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