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Southgate details $9.4 million shortfall; staff cuts and service reductions proposed
Summary
City Manager John Houston laid out a plan to close a $9.4 million budget gap, proposing the elimination of up to 32 full‑time positions, reductions across police, public works, parks and administrative services and cuts to programs residents rely on. Council heard strong public concern and voted to receive the presentation for follow‑up.
City Manager John Houston told the Southgate City Council on March 24 that the city faces a $9.4 million structural shortfall that requires “tough and immediate choices” and a series of staffing and program reductions to balance the fiscal 2026–27 budget.
Houston presented a timeline and rationale for the cuts, saying the city has already frozen some hiring but must now identify specific positions for layoff so that union bumping and legal notice periods can be completed before the new fiscal year. “We’ve frozen all positions that have been deemed essential for the city to continue to carry out its mission,” Houston said, while adding that the city must reduce staffing because roughly 80% of the general fund supports payroll and benefits.
The package staff presented assigned a proportional reduction target across departments, with…
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