Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman speaks during a news conference in his office at City Hall Monday, March 15, 2010. Goodman backed away from his proposal to fire all Las Vegas city employees, then rehire those who agree to work a shorter work week.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 | 1:26 p.m.
Sun Coverage
- Goodman backs off proposal to fire, rehire city employees (3-15-2010)
- Mayor ‘serious’ about firing/rehiring city employees (3-11-2010)
- Council advances budget that would leave 146 jobless (3-10-2010)
- Las Vegas mayor: Salary cuts needed to save 171 city jobs (3-4-2010)
- Goodman: City could save 171 jobs if unions agree to pay cut (2-25-2010)
- Las Vegas Mayor: No agreement yet on city employee contracts (1-28-2010)
- Las Vegas mayor calls on city employee unions to reopen contracts (1-7-2010)
- Las Vegas City Council OKs 8 percent salary, benefits cut (1-6-2010)
Mayor Oscar Goodman today used the word “gridlock” to describe ongoing budget negotiations with unions that represent city employees.
Goodman backed away Monday from his proposal to fire, then rehire, employees who agreed to work a shorter week after being told by the city attorney it could create legal troubles. But the mayor said he will continue to bargain with unions in his attempt to cut employee costs by 8 percent and avoid layoffs.
“I don’t want to lose any employees and I don’t want to cut out our services,” he said during a Thursday news conference at his City Hall office. “I need 8 percent either by salary or benefits or a combination of the two.”
Notices were sent to 146 city employees Monday indicating they will lose their jobs by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
At the April 7 city council meeting, the city will revisit what it will cut from the budget. The mayor said he hopes the “truth will come out” after both the city and the unions’ collective bargaining units speak at the meeting.
“The 8 percent is very reasonable,” Goodman said. “I have no problem asking for it and sticking by my guns.”
City officials expect a budget shortfall of $70 million, followed by a deficit of $40 million in the next fiscal year.
Goodman said although he has been told not to be optimistic, he thinks that the economy will bounce back “one day at a time.”
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy