Nearly half of Costa Mesa city employees get layoff notices (One commits suicide)

.latimes.com ^ | 3172011 | Joseph Serna and Mike Anton

[dragnet2]

Officials aim to contract work out to curb future pension obligations and eventually close a budget gap. A union leader says the city didn't try to negotiate other options. Workers are shell-shocked, and one dies in an apparent suicide.

Costa Mesa has sent layoff notices to nearly half of its employees in a dramatic austerity program being closely watched by other cities struggling with ballooning pension obligations.

The move was sharply criticized by union leaders, and it stunned city employees, one of whom apparently committed suicide by jumping off Costa Mesa City Hall hours after layoff notices went out Thursday.

The six-month termination notices affect 213 of the city's 472 full-time employees and cut across departments: firefighters, maintenance workers, jail staff, even dogcatchers.

Costa Mesa is among hundreds of local governments around the country facing massive future shortfalls in what they owe retirees. This year's tab — $15 million out of the city's $93-million budget — is estimated to grow to more than $25 million within five years.

"Clearly they are trying a new model," said Stuart Drown, executive director of the Little Hoover Commission, a bipartisan state public policy oversight agency. "A city that lays off half its staff — by any standard that's got to be considered a big move."

Costa Mesa "appears to have gone with the nuclear option," said Joe Nation, a professor of public policy at Stanford University

Faced with an unprecedented pension and retiree healthcare crisis, "cities are being forced to look at things that would've been unthinkable before," he said.

Controversy over public employee pensions and benefits has roiled state and local governments in recent months

Conservatives have attacked longstanding and seemingly unassailable perks won by public employee unions, and unions have struck back, unleashing bitter battles in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere

[newssleuth]

The poor guy was called in to work from his home where he was recovering from a broken ankle and most likely on pain medications.

[tflabo]

Yeh Lorianne and Scott Walker nicely endeavored to save their jobs in Wi. to avoid ANY layoffs. The crapola he got back in return is totally disgusting. Those morons NEED to be laid off and eat a little humble pie after all that cheesey basura.

[Publius6961]

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[dragnet2]

I’d like someone to show me another moderated sized city outside of CA, that has fired half it’s employees due to government overspending and mismanagement.

[dragnet2]

“We told all the illegals the approaching radiation plume will cause them to grow horns and their babies will have two heads...Get ready for your new arrivals muchacho.”

It means their headed to Texas dave, to join up with millions of their amigos...Get it now dave?

[dragnet2]

LOL...

Now if we can only get the rest of the cities and fed/gov to do this...