Atlanta Mayor Cuts Deeper

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin Tuesday announced an additional $14 million in cutbacks to close an estimated $50-$60 million budget gap.

Along with closing city hall and municipal courts on Fridays, Franklin plans budget cuts in city recreation services and art programs, reductions in street cleanings, and reducing city permitting staff by 20% to reflect a decline in permitting activity.

The city garbage collection will be reduced to four days instead of five, and recycling and yard waste will be picked up bimonthly instead of weekly.

Some 222 staff positions have already been eliminated.

Franklin announced last month that the city anticipated a $50 million to $60 million budget shortfall. Her initial recommendations were to institute an immediate hiring freeze, impose a four-hour weekly furlough for all 4,600 employees, and use $12 million from budget reserves to close a portion of the shortfall.

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