By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG — It has become a depressing annual ritual in this time of recession.
Right about this time of year, city officials start assessing how much revenues are going to decline and how big the deficit will be for next year's budget.
On Thursday, the City Council met for the first time with Mayor Bill Foster to consider ways to close a projected $12 million gap in the budget year that won't begin until October.
Foster has previously said he's considering about 30 layoffs across the board. Other cuts will be pondered for a $200 million budget that pays for everything from fire and police to parks and recreation and libraries.
"Everything is on the table," he said. "It's going to be a very challenging budget year."
As it was last year. And the year ...
