ANAHEIM : City’s Unions Told of Possible Layoffs

City officials met Tuesday with representatives of the city’s four employee unions to discuss the possibility that budget cuts and lower sales tax revenue will result in layoffs later this year.

Assistant City Manager Jim Armstrong, who attended the meeting, said that any personnel cuts would likely be a combination of layoffs and not filling vacant positions.

“We’re looking at all different options,” he said.

The city’s sales-tax revenue was down $1.2 million for the quarter ending in March, nearly 14% below the revenue for the same period last year.

Sharon Ericson, president of the Anaheim Municipal Employees Assn., said she is concerned that her union would be hit the worst by any budget cuts.

“The members are hearing things at work and they’re getting real upset,” said Ericson, who heads the city’s largest union, representing 800 workers. “Usually, I hear this stuff and take it with a grain of salt, but I’m hearing a little too much of it this time.”

The city is not required to give its municipal employees advance notice of layoffs, but any such plan would need to be approved by the City Council.

Union members from other departments, such as fire and police, have said they are concerned about possible layoffs but have been comforted by comments from some council members that emergency services would be spared most cuts.