50 Methuen Police Officers Could Be Laid Off After Budget Vote
METHUEN, Mass. (CBS/AP) — A Massachusetts city is facing the prospect of laying off at least 50 police officers amid debates over pay raises for superior officers.
Methuen Mayor James Jajuga will ask the City Council on Tuesday to restore the $1.8 million it cut from the police budget last summer. The city will run out of money to pay the department in March if the council refuses.
In order to prevent the city from deficit spending — which is illegal in Massachusetts for anything other than snow removal — officials said dozens of patrolmen will need to be laid off to keep the books balanced.
The funding resolution requires a majority of six of the nine councilors, and two councilors are unable to vote due to conflicts of interest.
According to the mayor's office, if the resolution does not pass, layoffs could begin shortly after the vote.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)