Mayor Bing: Cuts Mean Consolidation Coming

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says he will have some painful decisions to make over the next few weeks as he implements several million dollars in city budget cuts.

Speaking to reporters on Belle Isle, Wednesday, Bing said city employee layoffs are coming soon, but offered few details about his plan.

"We're probably going to look at assembling a couple of our departments and consolidating, but that's as much as I can say right now. We're still working through the process," the Mayor said.

Bing said city job cuts could begin by the end of August.

The Mayor's comments follow weeks of budget battles which included a mayoral veto and City Council agreeing to restore several million dollars to the budget, in an effort to avoid major cuts to city services and public safety.