IRVINE : City May Decide to Lay Off 70 Employees

The City Council tonight will vote on a proposal to lay off 70 municipal workers in an effort to close a $4.5-million budget gap.

City officials said the cuts are necessary to make up for tax and development fee revenues that fell short of projections.

City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. proposed laying off 64 full-time workers and up to six part-time workers from departments throughout the city. Ten managers are among the targeted employees. Six of the managers would lose their jobs under the plan, while the remaining four would be offered lower-paying jobs.

The vacant position of director of administrative services would also be eliminated.

The city has cut more than 100 jobs over the past three years at a savings of $12 million.

Some council members have expressed support for the layoffs. They said the cuts are the best way to close the budget shortfall.

In October, the council voted to lay off six workers when a similar shortfall developed.

If the latest round of cuts is approved, the layoffs will be based in part on seniority. Veteran employees whose jobs are eliminated might be offered other jobs, forcing the layoffs of fewer senior employees.