Mayor Confirms Furloughs

(Wednesday) March 31, 2010

By Jim Boissonnault
Special Correspondent
alexandrianews.org

The City of Alexandria has a new plan to deal with this winter’s budget-busting snows…furloughs.

“After all the numbers have come in from the overtime, equipment and goods used to deal with this past winter’s extreme snows, we really see no other way to save the city budget,” said Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille. “We explored every alternative with the city manager and have concluded a 30-day furlough of all city employees is needed to keep the city’s credit rating. Of course, this decision does not apply to the police force or critical emergency response services. However, citizens will face a city hall open one day a week (Monday) for the next several weeks and complete closure of libraries, schools and recreation centers. I, along with the City Council, understand the strain this will place on Alexandria residents, but we are asking everyone to pitch in. If we do not enforce a calculated reduction in expenses, Alexandria will go bankrupt.”

Reactions from city residents ranged from “Well, this is what you’d expect from all these tax-and-spend liberals,” to elation on the part of teachers and students. “Really, I don’t mind missing a month’s pay; it will be like summer come early,” said one teacher, who wished to remain anonymous.

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman has already begun planning for six-day school weeks to run through summer in order to make up for the lost time. “It’s going to be tough, but ACPS is up to the task,” said Sherman. “We are also exploring extended use of computerized assignments during the furlough so students won’t lose educational ground.”