Aug 29, 2008 5:30 am US/Central
Chicago Park District To Cut Up To 300 Jobs
District Faces $24 Million Budget Deficit This Year
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
Facing a $24 million deficit in its operating budget, the Chicago Park District is looking to eliminate up to 300 positions, sources said.
Park District Supt. Timothy Mitchell confirmed Thursday he has been talking to union leaders about buyouts in an attempt to head off layoffs.
The district's financial woes come on the heels of a similar move by the City of Chicago, which is facing a $420 million budget shortfall and is reportedly considering 1,000 layoffs.
Mitchell blamed higher energy prices and increased health-care costs for the shortfall in the $411 million budget for 2009. The district has about 3,000 employees.
About 100 positions are vacant and won't be filled, Mitchell said.
The severance package would be similar to the city's offer, he said, giving employees severance based on years of service. An employee with less than two years of service might receive $12,000 to quit; an employee with 15 years or more might receive $20,000 under the city plan.
Mitchell said he will give the Park District Board his budget ideas Oct. 31.
"By then, I'll have to nail down how many positions I'll have to eliminate out of my budget. That will decide if there's going to have to be any sort of layoffs," Mitchell said.
"I'd love to see people who would enjoy their retirement [take the buyout], rather than take someone who may have 10 years of service, with a new baby and a new house, and have them face not having a job," he said.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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