Mass Layoffs Across Seven Chicago City Colleges; Additional Cuts

The Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, has announced mass layoffs that will affect seven Chicago City Colleges.  225 non-teaching employees will lose their jobs, in addition to the elimination of 86 vacant positions. Administrative credit card use and travel will also take a cut.

The Mayor told Olive-Harvey College on Thursday, located in South Side Chicago, that the city’s aim is to place more funds towards technology and training for they school systems 115,000 students.
The Chicago City College system enjoyed a $40 million increase in spending this year, totaling a budget of $457.5 million. According to Daley and system officials, the increase in spending was made possible by a nine percent rise in enrollment as well as an increase in tuition.

The increase in enrollment added $19 million in federal funding and $10 million from the state.

It’s also important to note that this will be the second year in a row that the Chicago City College system will reduce their annual property tax levy. This year saw a reduction of $3 million.