Cities all over Florida are facing financial difficulties, but Hollywood, in Broward County, is being hit particularly hard.
On Thursday afternoon commissioners met for a budget workshop, hoping to iron out the city’s multimillion-dollar financial crisis.
Weeks after announcing the layoffs of about a dozen Hollywood police officers, city officials opted instead to cut the salaries of every other officer on the force by 12.5 percent.
Weeks after announcing the layoffs of about a dozen Hollywood police officers, city officials opted instead to cut the salaries of every other officer on the force by 12.5 percent.
Despite the move, the police union is still making a legal challenge, claiming it's wrong for the city to adjust police salaries in the middle of a contract.
City officials began making cuts earlier this summer when they learned they faced a $10.3 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year.
Hollywood Mayor Peter Bobber said poor financial forecasts made by senior staffers are part of the reason for the financial crunch.
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"The first problem is that the forecasting that was done was not as conservative as it needed to be," Bobber told NBC Miami. "Secondly, it should've been disclosed sooner and brought to our attention sooner that the numbers were not adding up as the months were going on."
As a result, the budget director is leaving her job, and the city manager has already left.
About a dozen general employees were expected to be laid off. Holidays that are typically paid, like July 4th and Labor Day, won't be paid this year.
The financial challenges at Hollywood's City Hall don't stop at the end of this fiscal year. The budget gap for next year is projected to be in the $25 million range.
As a result, the budget director is leaving her job, and the city manager has already left.
About a dozen general employees were expected to be laid off. Holidays that are typically paid, like July 4th and Labor Day, won't be paid this year.
The financial challenges at Hollywood's City Hall don't stop at the end of this fiscal year. The budget gap for next year is projected to be in the $25 million range.
