A number of employees of the City of Crowley were laid off Tuesday, the result of plummeting sales tax revenues in the wake of COVID-19 business shutdowns.
“As everyone is well-aware, COVID-19 has destroyed many lives, families and job. It has caused an economic crisis throughout our city, state, nation and the world,” Mayor Tim Monceaux said. “No person or business has been spared from the effects of this pandemic.”
Monceaux explained that the city is faced with a shortfall of sales taxes and other revenue sources estimated to be in the range of $1.3 million to $1.6 million.
“Unfortunately, to make ends meet, I had to iplement cuts to the city’s budget, a difficult decision to make, but one which must be done in order for city services and departments to continue to operate.”
Effective Tuesday, 15 city employees were laid off and spending cuts and hourly work reductions for remaining employees were made.
“These reductions in staff, spending and hours worked have affected every department under my authority,” Monceaux said. “In addition, city hall and city-wide departments, with the exception of the police and fire departments, will be going to a four-day work week, open Monday through Thursday and closed on Friday.
“This action is being taken to help minimize expenses,” he explained, adding that someone will be “on call” on Fridays to respond to citizens’ needs or emergencies.
The mayor said he had been in touch with the chairman of the city’s Revenue and Finance Committee, Clint Cavell.
In a post on social media, interim Fire Chief Terry Romero acknowledged that the fire department had been impacted by the layoffs.
“I’ll chalk today’s duties as the interim fire chief of the Crowley Fire Department as one of the hardest days of my career,” Romero posted. “Today I was required to tell five employees of the Crowley Fire Department that today was their last day on the job.
“Due to loss in revenue for the city, our budget was cut and required laying off five fire department personnel.”
In closing, Monceaux asked that citizens of Crowley support local businesses “as much as you can, practice social distancing and be a good neighbor.”
He continued, “I am optimistic that, once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and the restrictions are lifted, Ctowley’s economy, like her citizens, will be stronger and more resilient than ever.”