Yonkers mayor considers layoffs in ‘bare bones’ budget

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano is considering laying off hundreds of city workers in an effort to close a budget shortfall of $31 million.
Spano says he's looking to cut costs in the form of roughly 200 layoffs including police officers, firefighters, libraries and parks.
"If we suffer cuts it's really going to impact the whole community," says Yonkers Public Library Deputy Director Susan Thaler.
Spano says the budget is the result of revenue growing at roughly 25 percent and limited funds coming from the state. He adds that municipal aid from the state hasn't increased in six years, and that he wants to stay within the tax cap for people living here.
"It's about as bare bones of a budget as we have seen in Yonkers in a very long time," he told News 12.
The city's fire union president Barry McGoey said they've made concessions in the past, and cuts to the department – like the closure of a fire house – could impact neighbors who need it.
"It'd be a tremendous impact on public safety, a negative impact,” McGoey says. “If we have members who are laid off or demoted, it's unfortunate for those individuals as well."
Spano says he's willing to work with labor leaders and see where he could merge services or limit pay raises to save money.
"I need our labor leaders to come to the table again to help be a part of the solution," Spano says.
Spano says he hopes to finish the budget by next Friday. The budget deadline is June 1.