In addition to approving massive cuts to city services, including dozens of police and firefighter positions, the Long Beach City Council also approved taking the first steps toward implementing furloughs in the coming year.
A projected $18.5 million deficit is being eliminated with the cuts that the council approved for the 2011 fiscal year, and some of the reductions may yet be avoided.
Yet the council also voted unanimously in closed session for city officials to have a “meet and confer” with Long Beach’s largest employee association. The meeting would start talks on implementing unpaid furlough days, when City Hall and many other services would close during part of the work week.
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