STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — The city of Stuart officially cut 12 jobs from its workforce on Monday.
The move is part of an effort to save nearly $1 million as the new fiscal year begins. CBS12’s reporter Jack Wu reported the number could rise to 16 over the next few weeks, which represents three percent of the city’s total workforce.
As of this writing, it’s unclear how many people involved are being let go, what positions weren’t refilled, and how many positions were eliminated.
See also: Florida law originally targeting Trump protesters now used against UF football fans
City Manager Michael Mortell, who is overseeing the cuts, emphasizes the difficulty of the process, saying it is constantly on his mind.
Mortell stressed that no department is immune to the reductions, but he described the process as a proactive measure.
The cuts are projected to save the city around $1 million over the next year. However, the plan includes the hiring of four new firefighters, which will reduce the net savings by almost half, leaving a net gain of roughly $650,000—or about one percent of the General Fund this year.
Mortell clarified that some cuts will be achieved by not filling vacant positions and through retirements, but confirmed that some employees will be laid off.
The decision has brought out mixed emotions from Stuart residents.
Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day’s top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can’t miss video.