About a dozen Sarasota jobs were recently cut as the city continues to attempt balancing its budget.
The City of Sarasota has laid off 13 workers and eliminated 35 positions in an effort to save $1.8 million per year and better balance the budget. More than half of the jobs cut were already vacant, as the city has eliminated 191 positions and laid off about 65 workers since 2008.
Of the jobs that were cut, 12 were in landscaping maintenance and tree care, while two were for senior planners and six positions were in the utilities department. Officials noted they don't plan on cutting any more jobs during the near future.
According to an article by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the 13 workers who were laid off received a one-month notice giving them a chance to find another position with the city. Fortunately, vacancies have already been found by four of the people who lost their jobs.
To further lower costs, the city also plans to reduce garbage collection from twice per week to once per week beginning in September, which will save homeowners a few dollars each month and amount to $400,000 per year in savings for Sarasota.
And because revenues from property taxes, sales taxes and gas taxes continue to decline, city officials will soon have to decide whether to balance the budget by slashing another $3 million to $4 million, raising taxes, or raising taxes, making cuts and using some of the city's reserves.
