"We have used a strategy of ‘CUT NON-SAFETY FORCES FIRST,’ "said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "Since February, when I announced the first budget cuts, asked managers to be creative in cutting costs, and first asked our unions to work with us, we have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it will not fill the budget gap that can only be met with additional layoffs ."

The Akron Police Department served layoff notices today including one Captain, 4 lieutenants, 16 sergeants, and 75 patrol officers.

Akron Police Chief Craig Gilbride said that although 96 notices are being served, the actual number of vacancies will be considerably less, perhaps as few as 34, due to several factors - including "bumping" rights of the ranking officers who are receiving notices.

"The layoffs of the 21 officers who hold rank means that each of them will "bump" to the next lowest position, according to the Civil Service Rules," said Chief Gilbride. "The captain becomes a lieutenant, the lieutenants become sergeants, and the sergeants become patrol officers during the layoff period."

Additionally, up to 23 patrolmen may be immediately re-hired, and possibly 18 more. "We are asking the federal government to permit us to re-hire 23 officers right away with the COPS (federal stimulus) funding we were awarded in July," said the Mayor. "I am also hoping to immediately re-hire 18 officers through funds being made available by the Akron Public Schools that will increase security on our school properties, if the Fraternal Order of Police will agree."

The net effect of the re-hires and "bumping" would mean that although 96 officers have been noticed, 34 patrol officers will be left without jobs after October 1, if the union does nothing. "I have asked our largest private employers to hire our laid off patrol officers for security needs where they can," said the Mayor. "And if the FOP would honestly work with us, the union could actually save the remaining 34 jobs."

In the Fire Department, 38 notices were served today. Because the Fire ranks are already low on ranking officers, Chief Larry Bunner decided the best way to handle his share of the budget shortfall would be to layoff the newest class of firefighters recently employed by the City, and completing their training.

"If the Firefighters Union would agree to forego longevity payments this quarter - a type of bonus the city pays to its long-term employees - and allow us to ‘bank’ it for them for payout in the future, almost all of these firefighting jobs could also be saved." said the Mayor. On Monday, Plusquellic met with the heads of the city’s five bargaining groups and repeated that any money they save from this point forward will be used towards saving jobs of those employees within their same union.

The City also delivered layoff notices to 43 seasonal employees in the Recreation Bureau, whose terms of employment would normally have ended October 31. Director of Public Service Rick Merolla said that fewer seasonal employees will be hired for the winter season beginning November 1, which will necessitate some cutback in programs at the city’s 13 Community Centers and Community Learning Centers, and at Lock 3.

Many city departments will suffer the impact of the departure of 123 employees and managers who accepted the city’s buyout offer under a Voluntary Separation Plan. Few of the resignations impacted police and fire.

"Our Public Service departments have been slashing employees from their workforce for the last ten years, and again this year," said the Mayor.  "The impact of losing over 250 employees in the Service Department alone - 25% of its workforce - has been felt in city operations, other than police and fire, which we have tried to protect."

Other layoffs include:

8 employees in the Health Department:

7 employees in Public Service/Public Works departments (Other than Recreation)

7 employees in Administration - the Finance Department and Mayor’s Office.

1 employee in the Planning Department

"I have tremendous respect for the vast majority of city employees, and what they do for the citizens of Akron each day," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "Even though we are operating in 2009 with 1,000 fewer employees than we had 30 years ago, we provide great services, and we have worked successfully to expand job opportunities within our city.

"But we are still tied to the world economy," said the Mayor, "and we can’t escape the worldwide recession and its impact. Employment in the private sector of Akron is down. At the end of August, income tax revenues are down $3.5 million. Property tax income, investment income, and the funds we receive from the state are all down. Health care costs are up. We are looking at a deficit in excess of $7 million by December 31 if we do nothing else. I have a legal obligation to balance the budget by the end of the year."