Phoenix to lay off more than 1,000 city workers

Phoenix is facing the most difficult budget cuts in its history, according to Mayor Phil Gordon.

More than 1,000 people will lose their jobs as departments face cuts of 25 to 40 percent, Gordon said. He emphasized, however, that no police officers or firefighters will be laid off.

"We have to make the cuts," Gordon said. "We can't do what the federal government has done, which is ignore the problem and just print money. We have to make real cuts."

Phoenix cut $100 million from the budget earlier this year, but is still facing a deficit of $250 million, which is 15 percent of the entire budget.

"We're going to manage through this," Gordon said. "It's going to be very, very difficult. Residents are going to experience some reduced services, not in critical areas, but maybe some longer lines and waiting times."

About 40 city employees lost their jobs in the last round of budget cuts, but Gordon said there's no longer many alternatives to layoffs.

"This year, we'll probably have anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 position reductions and, unfortunately, there's not a lot of absorption ability to avoid that. We're going to have a lot more layoffs, I don't have an exact number now."

Gordon said the city will do whatever it can to help employees who are laid off.

"The city of Phoenix has a Human Resources Department -- Both in terms of looking for other positions within the city, or with companies that deal with the city, we'll be doing that."

The City Council is working on a budget to be unveiled in January. That will be followed by two weeks of public hearings. The job cuts could begin next March.