Politics & Government

City May Lay Off Five Employees

Five currently filled positions will be recommended for termination in the upcoming city budget, according to City Manager Rob DiSpirito.

Dunedin Fire Marshal Bill McElligott issued a farewell to residents Tuesday morning.

He is one of a few more planned city layoffs, he said.

"It was a pleasure to be a big part of a great little community," McElligott wrote in an email to Dunedin Patch on Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McElligott's is one of five city positions that are being "recommended to be reduced" as part of departmental restructuring necessary for efficiency in next year's budget, City Manager Rob DiSpirito wrote in an email to Dunedin Patch late Tuesday.

DiSpirito said all but one of the employees in the positions being recommended for reduction would keep their jobs until Oct. 1. That is when the new budget takes effect. This is to "help balance a $1.2 million expected shortfall in the General Fund," DiSpirito wrote in the email.

Find out what's happening in Dunedinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The budget for fiscal year 2013 is in preliminary draft form and has not been released. Last year, one position was cut because of budget reductions.

"The employees affected have already been spoken to," DiSpirito wrote. 

McElligott already has cleaned out his desk.

"I put my heart and soul into Dunedin," McElligott wrote in his email.


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