Jackson is facing an unprecedented decline in income from tax revenues. Jackson Interim City Manager Chris Lewis says, "We budgeted for 8 million dollars for this budget year and we're projecting we'll probably take in 7 million or less."

Lewis says they are about half-way through the fiscal year. With the shortfall, he says they have to close the loophole sooner than later. Lewis says, "Every pay period that goes by, we are running in a shortfall and...let me use this term, it's a structural deficit. We have more employees than we do revenue."

Lewis has struck an agreement with two police union groups so far to cut wage costs by 5%. The move will save the department from layoffs. Police Chief Matt Heins says, "We have tentative agreements with the lower unit which is the officers union and the supervisory unit with their sergeants and lieutenants and those go before council tonight (Tuesday).

As part of the agreement, employees will have to take furlough days. The business rep. for the Police Officers Labor Council says the sergeants and lieutenants will be taking a large number to make up for a 3% wage increase. Homer Lafrinere says, "During the discussions with the city, what we agreed to was the 20 furlough days in the next year and a half....seven this year and 13 next year....7 between now and July 1 and then 20 between July 1 and June 30th of next year."

Heins doesn't think the furlough days will be a threat to public safety, but they will have to keep an eye on it. Chief Heins says, "With the number of furlough days that we're talking about, we certainly have to balance the furlough days versus staffing on the shift. So, we believe at this point we're able to accommodate the furlough days with minimal impact on the staff coverage. But, as we get into this, we're going to learn more about how indeed that is going to work. So, there are a lot of unanswered questions."

Lewis says the council is scheduled for a possible vote for approval for the police agreement at Tuesday night's council meeting. He says the council will also be taking up his proposal for non-union city employees to take a 2% wage concession at that time.

Lewis says, although the goal is to stop layoffs, three people have been pink slipped so far. Heins says that includes a non-union IT employee, an employee from the records division and an ordinance enforcement officer.

Lewis says he's also recommending to the council that he take a 5% pay cut. He says he wouldn't ask city employees to do something he wouldn't be willing to do. He says cutting his pay by 5% will save the city about $4,000. The Jackson City Council was also scheduled to vote on that at Tuesday's meeting.