Dallas plans layoffs and pay cuts

In preliminary projections, to be voted on in September, Dallas looks to lay off as many as 400 employees and implement salary cuts up to 5 percent on the wages of the remaining employees, according to The Dallas Morning News. The city also looks to close swimming pools and recreation centers in order to reduce the expected $130 million gap in the budget for next year. The council members continue to work on other solutions to the budget gap including cutting police overtime pay by 25% and raising property taxes. Their hope is to prevent the loss of community library hours and centers for swimming and recreation, as well as employee salaries. City Manager, Mary Suhm, points out that a tax increase can’t fix everything and that salary cuts are unavoidable. While many council members favor a tax increase, equally as many are against it, including the mayor.