The number of employees taking the city of Peoria up on it's Early Retirement Incentive could lessen the pending layoff impact more than thought. City Manager Patrick Urich updated the City Council on the status of the ERI Tuesday night. Urich says there's been active response.
Urich says 18 have sign up for early outs already, and there are up to 5 more currently pending.Urich says depending how many more sign up for early retirement, it could mean reduction in force could go down to 20 or maybe less. The original projection of workforce layoffs was about 54 needed to balance an operating budget deficit of $5.5 million dollars.
Mayor Jim Ardis is also encouraged, but warns tough budget decisions will be felt no matter what. Ardis says any service level reduction or department transition will likely take most of 2012 to smooth out.
There are two more planned budget sessions before pointing towards approving a final 2012 budget November 22nd.
