CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- While layoffs are being contemplated in other cities after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, Mayor Lightfoot said she and her team are working hard to make sure they don’t happen in Chicago city government.
Mayor Lightfoot is quick to admit she doesn’t know the full impact that COVID-19 will have on Chicago.
"I can't tell you yet what the full magnitude of the impact is on our 2020 budget. And we don't start our formal process of looking ahead to 2021 until really the end of May, beginning of June," Lightfoot said.
But, at a time when Chicago residents, municipal employees included, will be looking to government, she said city layoffs would be demoralizing.
"As someone who worked in city government back in the 2000s, in days where there were mandatory furlough days and there were layoffs - that's demoralizing to your workforce," she said.
"I believe to the extent that we can, city government and state government and federal governments should be acting as a catalyst to spur economic growth."
She said her budget team is working every day to see how to maintain services and staffing.
"I view layoffs and furloughs as a last, last, last resort - well, last is raising property taxes," Lightfoot said.
But, the Mayor has also talked about maintaining city services when people need them most, and she acknowledges it will be hard work making all the numbers mesh.
Whatever happens, she said, she’ll be transparent about it.