Toledo police layoffs suspended

TOLEDO, Ohio (WUPW) - The city of Toledo is not laying off 125 police officers - at least not yet.

Mayor Michael Bell said "a positive meeting" Wednesday morning with Toledo police unions prompted the recall of the 125 police layoffs issued on Monday. The mayor said union representation showed an interest in looking at concessions. 

The city's police division has to some how find a way to patch up $4 million in the budget, basically the share the mayor is holding them responsible for.

"We don't want to get in battle," Mr. Bell said. "It's not that they're not doing good work. We just need to balance this budget."

Mr. Bell said he's open to any idea to close the hole in the budget. Originally the city was asking officers to pay a portion of their pension pick up and contribute more for health care coverage. But Mayor Bell said if they can find other cost saving measures, he is interested in listening to those ideas.

"If they can go back and figure things out how to get to a certain number, I'm open as I've been open in all recommendations," he said. "We just have to close this gap."

Layoff notices went out to nearly 200 Toledo employees Monday, in hopes the layoffs would help balance a $48.2 million budget deficit.

The mayor has set a deadline of next Friday, March 26, for the fire and police unions. If they can't come to terms by then, pink slips will be handed out again to police officers, and for the first time to firefighters

City council has to have a balanced budget by March 31 per the city's charter.