Mayor Reed Gusciora is threatening mass police layoffs amid a political fight over finances and revenue collection, The Trentonian has learned.
Anywhere from 15 to 20 cops could be ousted from the Trenton Police Department under the mayor’s contingency plan for a balanced budget. The layoff plan may come to fruition if City Council does not placate the mayor’s demands.
City police officials confirmed they received word late Friday from the administration to begin preparing a layoff plan in the event that the administration and the legislative body cannot reach a compromise about holding an accelerated tax sale that was scheduled for May 11.
The city was expecting to make millions off the accelerated tax sale, but those plans were dashed when the council voted 7-0 last month against having it.
The administration is considering firefighter brownouts, Fire Director Derrick Sawyer confirmed Friday night.
“I am hoping this does get averted,” Sawyer said. “They have told us to prepare for the worst, so that is what we are doing now, preparing for the worst.”