NEW ORLEANS?
??? As the new year approaches, families on the North Shore are bracing for financial hardships.
??? Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan says the city's budget shortfall could result in layoffs.
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????? "If I have to lay people off this would have to take effect January," Mayor Drennan said.
??? Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan is faced with the difficult task of balancing the city's budget for next year.
?? He's looking at a projected, major budget shortfall.
??? "A million dollar plus," Drennan said. "A million dollars to a city this size is an awful lot of money."
??? The balancing act could mean layoffs for city employees in several
departments.
?? "Well everything is on the table. I have to look at everything," Drennan said.
?? "I think that's horrible," Slidell parent Lauren Rogers said.
??? Lauren Rogers is worried about cuts in public safety and other city services.
?? "I depend on all of the city employees to pick up my trash, to handle the water, to do the gas," Rogers said. "Everything so like it's a huge concern to me."
??? But the mayor has a plan that might minimize layoffs and community impact.
??? He says employees in several departments have indicated that they plan to retire by the first of the year; and there are vacant positions he does not plan to fill.?
?? "It is my hope that I?ll be able to make those reductions through attrition and through retirements," Drennan said.
?? "If I can't make the numbers I have to make to reach that amount of money then I will have to decide what departments would be cut and what areas will be cut," Drennan explained.
?? "I think it's terrible," Slidell resident George Guy said.
??? George Guy just dropped off supplies at animal control.
??? The department lost an employee in the most recent round of layoffs.
??? It's already resulted in heavier workloads, and employees who remain aren't the only one's paying the price.?????????????
??? "I realize he has to do it, and only he knows what he has to do but it's ashamed that the people have to suffer for it," Guy said.? ??
???? Mayor Drennan says there are 17-positions that may not be filled.
???? That would bring the total to 57-unfilled positions since Drennan took office 2 ? years ago.
Fall Leaves Jim Lehrer 666 Park Avenue Kara Alongi Sahara Davenport
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