Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration mentioned Monday that metropolis officers would lay off 171 workers, slash vacant positions and shift prices for dozens of jobs as they start to handle a gaping price range shortfall for subsequent 12 months.
The announcement gave agency particulars of the size of the cuts to workers for the primary time — and about three months after Johnston informed the town they might be vital. The layoffs symbolize lower than 2% of the town workforce coated by the final fund. Metropolis leaders additionally eradicated one other 665 vacant positions.
“Hopefully we will get by this,” council President Amanda Sandoval mentioned of the affect enjoying out inside metropolis buildings in the course of the council’s assembly Monday afternoon. “However will probably be a time of adjustment.”
The layoff notices, which have been anticipated to be delivered by Tuesday, come as the town makes an attempt to fill a $200 million price range shortfall subsequent 12 months that’s attributable to shrinking gross sales tax income and growing prices. Town’s reserve fund can also be working critically low.
The worker cuts and different reductions or shifts of positions out of the final fund are anticipated to generate about $100 million in financial savings, based on the mayor’s workplace.
RELATED: Had been you laid off by the town of Denver? Inform us about your expertise.
About 11,000 jobs have been supported by the final fund, the mayor’s workplace mentioned. A information launch didn’t distinguish what number of full-time versus part-time staff the town was shedding. One other 92 positions shall be moved to different funding sources to scale back prices.
The mayor’s workplace enacted a hiring freeze earlier this 12 months, which on high of previous belt-tightening had prompted lots of the vacant positions.
The dimensions of the layoffs was decrease than many had anticipated earlier than Monday. In an info vacuum after the layoffs have been introduced, some observers and workers had speculated that a whole bunch of jobs — or much more — might be in danger. The excessive variety of vacant positions was one issue that lowered the affect on present workers, the mayor’s workplace mentioned.
The layoffs have been the primary main job cuts to play out in Denver metropolis authorities since 2011.
Scott Gilmore, a longtime supervisor within the metropolis’s Division of Parks and Recreation, was among the many folks laid off Monday.
“I received a name that principally mentioned, ‘Thanks, however we don’t want you anymore,’ ” he mentioned in an interview. “I dedicated my life to this metropolis.”
Gilmore, who’s married to Denver Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore, was a deputy govt director within the parks division for 13 years, beginning earlier than Stacie Gilmore was first elected in 2015. Final 12 months, he turned the deputy govt director of mountains parks and particular tasks, a place he mentioned isn’t paid for out of the town’s basic fund — which is the place the layoffs have been focused.
Jordan Fuja, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s workplace, mentioned the shifting of some bills to particular income funds impacted some non-general fund positions.
Gilmore, 61, had hoped to retire in his place.
“I take my daughter again to varsity in two weeks,” he mentioned. “I don’t have a job. How do I pay for my daughter’s faculty?”
A doc supplied by Gilmore to JS confirmed that he was amongst eight Parks and Recreation workers set to be laid off.
Almost 4 years in the past, throughout then-Mayor Michael Hancock’s remaining time period in workplace, the positions of Gilmore and the division’s different deputy director were shifted from mayoral appointee jobs to career service positions — which insulated them from a change within the mayor’s workplace. However that didn’t defend them from being affected by broad-scale layoffs.
Stacie Gilmore commented on her husband’s layoff throughout Monday’s council assembly, at occasions getting emotional as she shared why she thinks he misplaced the place. She’s been important of Johnston and a few of his initiatives.
“Due to his sassy, loudmouth spouse, he received let go,” she mentioned.
Different council members additionally spoke out in regards to the layoffs, expressing frustration that the mayor’s workplace made the staffing choices earlier than the upcoming price range course of may play out. Johnston’s proposed 2026 price range is due in mid-September, and the council will then conduct price range hearings and vote on a remaining price range by November.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t do extra,” mentioned Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez. “I’m sorry that Metropolis Council didn’t get to vote on this and that we didn’t get our voices heard.”
Officers plan to launch an in depth, department-by-department breakdown of the layoffs later this week in any case affected workers have been notified, based on the mayor’s workplace launch.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
Initially Printed:
