Overview
- The city issued 127 layoff notices Monday across 18 departments in the first phase of cutting about 500 positions.
- Affected units include the City Administrator’s Office, Public Health, Police, Economic and Workforce Development, and the Human Services Agency.
- Lurie says shrinking federal and state aid helped create the gap and argues early cuts will steady city finances.
- Budget director Sophia Kittler has said at least 500 jobs must be eliminated and directed agencies to curb contracts and overtime, with a proposed budget due in June.
- Unions warn the reductions will strain hospitals, street cleaning, and transit support, while backers promote a June tax measure targeting high CEO pay as a way to ease deeper cuts.