The City of Prince George laid off nine workers on Tuesday as part of $1.99 million in budget cuts planned for 2012.
Four managers and five full-time union employees received pink slips on Tuesday. A total of 10 management positions and 18 unionized positions were eliminated - the equivalent of 24 full-time jobs. The bulk of the positions eliminated were already vacant.
"It's a difficult day for everyone. These employees were notified today," Green said during a press conference on Tuesday. "I think it's an unfortunate circumstance we find ourselves in. [But] this is the necessity that many other sectors and governments have had to make... One-time fixes will not get the job done."
The layoffs and eliminated positions are in the city's parks, long-range planning, community and social development, community policing, CN Center, Prince George Civic Center, environmental services, development and transportation and communications divisions.
The cuts will not effect policing, the fire department, snow clearing or road maintenance, Green said.
Council is showing, "willing and courageous," leadership to tackle the city's financial situation, she said.
"We're trying to hold the line on taxes relative to inflation," Green said.
The layoffs come in advance of city council's budget deliberations in February.
On Monday city council asked city administration to bring forward a budget based on a 3.12 per cent property tax increase. Council will formally debate the budget in a series of meetings starting on Feb. 15.
The city employes 567 full-time staff and 157 part-time staff. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 1048 represents approximately 400 of those workers.
"We have concerns for our members," CUPE local 1048 president Janet Bigelow said Monday. "I'm hoping that [the cuts] include all personnel, not just CUPE personnel - that it include exempt staff."
A spokesperson for CUPE local 399, which represents the city's outside workers could not be reached for comment as of press time.
City manager Derek Bates said the cuts will result in some reduced levels of service in the effected departments.
"We'll have to reevaluate the service standards and expectations," Bates said.
With the cuts to the city parks department, he said, city staff will have to prioritize which parks get maintained.
"Smaller neighbourhood parks receive less attention," Bates said. "It may be the case that services and standards take a little bit longer to achieve."
City administration had previously reported to city council that a 5.13 per cent tax increase would be needed to maintain services at existing levels. According to a report presented to city council,nearly $2 million in operational spending will need to be cut to restrict the tax increase to 3.12 per cent.
While city revenue was anticipated to increase by $828,000 in 2012 due to new construction and increased city fees, the city is facing $3.9 million in additional costs.
A total of $2.48 million of that increase is due to rising wages for RCMP, CUPE staff, fire fighters and city managers.
Included in the new costs for the city is $350,000 for a core service review, which was a key plank in Green's election platform. City council approved the budget for the review earlier this month.
Green flip-flops on job cuts, tax increase
Prior to the election, Green pledged to find financial efficiencies at City Hall without cutting jobs. During the launch of her election platform on Oct. 20, Green said financial disciple would be her top priority if elected.
Green also pledged to bring a service-oriented approach to city services to better meet the needs of the business and investment community.
"For me job cuts is not something we want to consider," Green said. "[But] our ability to spend needs to be tied to our ability to pay. I think we're really at the end of tolerance for tax hikes."
Green said her commitment to not eliminate jobs was only in the context of the core service review which was a key platform plank for her during the election.
"That's the reference I gave, although some may not interpret it that way."
