Jacksonville slashes about 150 jobs from city workforce

[thelakelander]

About 150 city of Jacksonville employees will be laid off this week, and another 150 demoted, as the local government gears up for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

Almost half of the 300 employees were notified of their fate as of Wednesday evening; the process began Tuesday, with the rest of the notifications planned for the next few days. The layoffs will save upwards of $4 million a year in salaries, according to a list of salaries of most of the laid-off individuals.

Those being let go are not, by and large, a highly paid group, with the average salary around $31,000. The majority of laid-off workers made less than that, with a number of library clerks, for example, being paid less than $21,000.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-09-05/story/jacksonville-slashes-about-150-jobs-city-workforce

[Ocklawaha]

In other words, if you liked the way we maintained our public spaces before, you are going to love it next year.

[birdilicious]

Are we trying to dismantle the city?

[tufsu1]

well tough decisions had to be made...and asking people to pay a few more dollars in taxes each year was apparently not an acceptable option

[Bill Hoff]

Be prepares to wait for things. Well, wait longer.

[If_I_Loved_you]

well tough decisions had to be made...and asking people to pay a few more dollars in taxes each year was apparently not an acceptable option

Wait till next year the sheriff saved a lot of police personnel this year. But next year the pink elephant that is still in the room "police and fire fighters pension still needs to be taken care of. And the city council and mayor nor the sheriff have a clue how to reduce the cost? You aren't going to raise my taxes so you guys can retire with a golden parachute?

[fsujax]

before long the Ed Ball building will be vacant! if I were those people I would actively be seeking another job.

[CityLife]

^Pretty sure that has already been happening. I know the planning department has lost a lot of planners in the past year or so. Many of whom have left on their own. There are still some good people there, but I'd imagine it's one of the weakest planning staffs among the top 50 cities in the country.

[acme54321]

http://www.news4jax.com/blob/view/-/16499678/data/2/-/grxu8iz/-/Names-of-employees-pdf.pdf

[mtraininjax]

well tough decisions had to be made...and asking people to pay a few more dollars in taxes each year was apparently not an acceptable option

The I'm With Alvin crowd has only themselves to blame. Brown stated he would not raise taxes, would not even raise them in areas that helped fund programs, the City Council had to do this for him. At least Peyton had the balls to force the Stormwater issue. Already one year into his term, Brown has nothing but a limp noodle of a spine.

Grow a pair Mr. Mayor and do what is best for the city, forget your campaign promises, you still have people on MJ who would follow you through hell in a gasoline suit, so why not go for it and show some leadership?

[mtraininjax]

Mtrain.  Last time I checked, he still isnt Mike Hogan.

Can you only imagine what a Hogan Administration would have been like with the current Thundertard Roundup of a city council we have?

Stephen, you are on your game today, nope, last I checked Brown does not equal Hogan. Please educate the 150 poor bastards who had their jobs, soul, and future torn from them. I am sure your silver tongue will delight them with ecstasies which will last forever!

They might even want a hug from you....

[Charles Hunter]

I see Bill Killingsworth is among the "gone" from the PD.  A lot of Inspectors from Public Works.  A ton of Library folks.

Who knew that "the next level" was down? Agree with the posts above, to paraphrase Pres. Clinton, "grow some brass" Mr. Mayor.

Sad.

[thelakelander]

Killingsworth was in the demoted list.  I noticed the planning department's transportation specialist who worked with Killingsworth on the Mobility Plan was let go.  Is there anyone left in planning who spent significant time developing the mobility plan and fee now?

[acme54321]

I saw Bill Killingsworth on there also, I thought the mayor accepted his resignation (or something) a while ago? 

[If_I_Loved_you]

About 150 city of Jacksonville employees will be laid off this week, and another 150 demoted, as the local government gears up for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

Almost half of the 300 employees were notified of their fate as of Wednesday evening; the process began Tuesday, with the rest of the notifications planned for the next few days. The layoffs will save upwards of $4 million a year in salaries, according to a list of salaries of most of the laid-off individuals.

Those being let go are not, by and large, a highly paid group, with the average salary around $31,000. The majority of laid-off workers made less than that, with a number of library clerks, for example, being paid less than $21,000.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-09-05/story/jacksonville-slashes-about-150-jobs-city-workforce

"The majority of laid-off workers made less than that, with a number of library clerks, for example, being paid less than $21,000." This really makes me sick  when we kill the library with less staff and shorter hours  we are really killing Jacksonville Fl. Mayor Brown you do need a backbone and please stop calling yourself a democrat!