Flint EFM Ed Kurtz says job cuts are likely - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(01/23/13) - Flint's Emergency Financial Manager Ed Kurtz says the city's current budget is on track, but cuts are coming.

Kurtz says city leaders are still dealing with old deficits totaling out to about $19 million.

Future projections, as they relate to the bottom line, are not so bright either.

"Too long in this city have we budgeted on what might be instead of what really is," Kurtz says. "This time, for the first time in a long time, there's a budget based on what really is."

Kurtz says there will be less revenue next year than there was this year and five year projections are bleak too.

In order to have a balanced budget?

Kurtz says the city will cut more staff.

"Frankly, we don't know where to begin," Kurtz says.

Police and fire jobs are safe, according to Kurtz.

The police department will actually gain 10 jobs thanks to the public safety millage passed in November. Those officers will be on the streets by the first or second week in February. Fire staffing will remain as is.

"We believe we can maintain that through the five year life of the millage," Kurtz says.

"Is there the potential we can reduce some of the cost of in the court? Maybe. We'd like to have talks with county about merging 911 systems," Kurtz says. "When 85-90 percent of our costs are wages and benefits, that's the only place you can get savings is by cutting people, unfortunately."

Raising the income tax is being explored, according to Kurtz, but city leaders are concerned about driving people out of Flint because of increased fees and taxes.