WHAS11 Coverage

More on the budget cuts from Mayor Abramson's Office

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11/AP) -- Mayor Jerry Abramson, saddled with a budget shortfall, continues to look at cuts, ways to balance the budget.

First he talked to Louisville police and fire to try and save some money. Both groups answered with a firm “no, thank you”.

Now the mayor is cutting services to narrow the budget gap. 

There don't appear to be any cuts that will dramatically impact people's lives.

Inconvenience, yes.  Major cuts, no.  But the mayor says there are more cuts to come since he's nowhere close to filling the $20 million shortfall in the city budget.

The Belle of Louisville is losing some city money.  Otter Creek Park, which is owned by the city, is being shut down.  They're part of the latest round of Metro Government budget cuts announced by Mayor Abramson on Monday.

The cuts, and their savings, are:

• Eliminating street and road paving, $1.43 million
• Closing libraries on Sundays, $165,0000
• Closing community centers one day a week, on Mondays, $105,000
• Closing at the Mary T. Meagher pool one day a week, on Sundays, $27,000
• ClosingOtter CreekPark in nearby MeadeCounty, $180,000
• Reducing grants to arts group by 50 percent, $511,000
• Reducing funding to WaterfrontPark and the Belle of Louisville, $92,000
• Reducing grants to economic development agencies, including Greater Louisville Inc., Greater Louisville Sports Commission and area business groups, $270,000.
• Eliminating funding for the Starfish swimming program, $90,000 (Jefferson County Public Schools leadership plans to recommend ending Starfish due to budget constraints.)

The new series of cuts still leaves Abramson searching for at least another $10 million to plug the city's $20 million shortfall. 

He's asked unionized city workers to give up their 2% raises, but even if that happens, the city will still be millions short.

The mayor says more cuts will have to be made. Abramson says he and his top staff have taken 10 percent pay cuts and he is continuing to talk with union leaders who represent city employees to find more ways to save money.

Abramson won't rule out some layoffs, even if the unions representing city workers agree to some concessions.

So far, none of them have.  Abramson is scheduled to meet with the police union Tuesday. 

The cuts announced Monday will become effective Dec. 14.