Budget Deficits Leads Wilmington to Eliminate 31 City Jobs

Mayor James Baker of Wilmington, Delaware said the city is terminating 31 city jobs as part of a plan to trim spending by about $6 million a year.

According to BusinessWeek, Wilmington is facing daunting budget deficits that Baker said needs to be rectified. The job cuts entail 11 vacant positions, but others slated to lose their jobs are the public safety director, a fire captain, three police sergeants and two police lieutenants, BusinessWeek reports.

Affected employees have already been notified that the cuts will take place Jan. 3.

City officials told BusinessWeek that without the cuts, Wilmington’s projected yearly deficits will increase from $500,000 in fiscal 2012 to $18 million in fiscal 2015.