Mayor announces 30 layoffs, will close libraries for a week

About 30 city of Seattle employees will get layoff notices today as part of $13.3 million in budget cuts the mayor announced this morning.

In all, the city will eliminate 59 positions, half of which are currently filled. Employees from several departments will learn today that their jobs are being cut, although the layoffs will not happen until July, said budget director Dwight Dively.

In addition, the city plans to close the library system for a week this summer and cut a variety of other costs. About 100 city employees will take a week of unpaid furlough, not counting the library employees who will be off the last week of August when the library is closed.

"It's no secret that we are in the worst economic crisis in decades here in Seattle," Nickels said during a news conference.

Nickels said he will make no cuts to direct human services or to police officers. In addition to the $13.3 million in cuts, he plans to spend about $5 million from the city's emergency fund and $19 million left over from 2008. That will close the $43 million budget gap expected in 2009.

In addition, the city is projecting it will be about $40 million short in 2010. There is still $25 million in the rainy-day fund to help close that gap.

Nickels will brief the Seattle City Council on Monday about the cuts, and then his staff will attend a public hearing Wednesday evening. No vote is necessary, and he will make his final cuts by May 1.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com