MONROE, La. – Mayor Jamie Mayo and City of Monroe employees are taking a pay cut to control the City’s budget, which has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and the Easter tornado.
The combined crisis left the City about $1 million in the red for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The City says they expected a surplus before the two events. The fiscal year ends April 30.
To help make up for the deficit, all City employees will be temporarily furloughed for one hour a week with a corresponding reduction in pay, city officials say.
The City says this will start on May 1, 2020, and will save the City an estimated $500,000 over the next fiscal year. The timeframe for the furloughs is seven months, but could be adjusted depending on future sales tax revenue, the City says.
The City says Mayor Mayo will also take the reduction in pay, which has to be voted on by the Monroe City Council due to the mayor’s salary being dictated by an ordinance. The vote is expected to happen on the evening of April 28.
