Most city offices closed Oct. 12 due to budget cuts

For Immediate Release Sept. 29, 2009

Media Contact:
Amy Casas
Communications Officer
817-392-7220 (office)
817-944-8071 (cell)

The fiscal year 2010 budget closes a $59 million shortfall in part by cutting back some city services and reducing personnel costs. Part of that plan includes eight furlough days. These days without pay are required for all general (non-civil service) city employees.

The first furlough day is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12. As a result of the furlough day, some city services and programs will be unavailable. Below is a list of closures as well as a list of those essential services that will operate normally.

Closed:

• City offices and buildings, including the Fort Worth Municipal Building (City Hall) and Marshall Public Safety Building (Municipal Courts), will be closed on Oct. 12.
• Due to previously confirmed events, the Fort Worth Convention Center’s first furlough day will be Oct. 5. and the Will Rogers Memorial Center’s will be Nov. 16.
• All libraries will be closed on Oct. 12. The three libraries that are normally closed on Mondays — Northside Branch, BOLD (Butler Outreach Library Division) and COOL (Cavile Outreach Opportunity Library) — will be closed for their furlough day on Oct. 10.
  On furlough days:
  • No library materials will be due.
  • No electronic requests for materials will be processed.
  • Book drops will be closed.

Open as normal:

• Fire emergency services
• Police services
• Weekly trash, recycling, yard waste and bulky item pickup
• Alliance, Meacham and Spinks airports
• Water Call Center. 817-FW-24-HRS (392-4477). (Payments also can be made online.)
• City Call Center:
  • City Switchboard. 817-392-CALL (2255)
  • Environmental Management. 817-392-EASY (3279)
  • Code Compliance. 817-392-1234
  • Animal Care and Control. 817-392-3737
  • Transportation/Public Works. 817-392-8100
• Golf courses, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth Herd, McLeland Tennis Center, Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth Water Gardens (water features will not be operating)
• Fort Worth Convention Center and Will Rogers Memorial Center

Other furlough days through the rest of the year and into 2010 are:

• Day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, 2009
• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2009
• President’s Day, Feb. 15, 2010
• Good Friday, April 2, 2010
• Friday before Memorial Day, May 28, 2010
• Friday before Independence Day, July 2, 2010
• Friday before Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2010

To learn more, call 817-392-CALL (2255).

Posted by Brian Chatman at 09/29/2009 09:44:57 AM