Lawrence mayor threatens shutdown. Budget impasse may lead to layoffs

[Ian David]

By Russell Contreras, Globe Staff | July 30, 2007

Hundreds of Lawrence city employees, including school principals and youth aid workers, could be temporarily laid off Wednesday because of a budget impasse at City Hall, Mayor Michael J. Sullivan said yesterday.

"We'll be entering emergency status," said Sullivan. "We'll have no authority to spend, except for public safety employees like police and the firefighters."

He blamed the situation on the City Council, saying councilors failed to send a proposed $218 milion budget to a public hearing, and said the shutdown is "more than likely" going to happen.

Threatened shutdowns are not new to Lawrence -- last year the city needed three 30-day budgets, the most allowed under state law -- before councilors approved a budget.

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/07/30/lawrence_mayor_threatens_shutdown/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News