City Begins Hundreds of Lay-offs

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Today marked the first wave of lay-offs among Atlanta city employees, as officials contend with a 140 million dollar budget gap for the next fiscal year. More than 400 will be terminated by Monday.

Mayor Shirley Franklin defended her workforce cuts and proposed tax increase in a budget presentation to City Council's finance committee.

Nancy Lenk, deputy director of local 1644 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, says the layoffs are bad for everyone:

LENK: This whole budget is really indicating that people are going to have more work, because they're going to have fewer people, and there's also no raise, no nothing in the budget, so wow - people are taking a big hit.

The mayor's proposal reduces spending by 57 million dollars in addition to the layoffs, several unfilled spots will be eliminated.

The budget also seeks to raise 40 million dollars through an increase in the millage rate, which the mayor argues will go toward public safety only.