NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (FOX5) -
More than 100 people in North Las Vegas may lose their jobs as soon as this weekend. City leaders said they were left with no other options.
The North Las Vegas City Council had a deadline to reach a balanced budget by June 30. That deadline was met, and with it came layoffs.
North Las Vegas was facing a $30 million budget hole. City leaders said they tried to work with the unions on a compromise that would have included cuts and concessions, but they declined.
City leaders said the only option was to close the jail and lay off workers.
"The conditions that we're dealing with are valley-wide. Every jurisdiction is freezing," said North Las Vegas City Manager Tim Hacker. "Every jurisdiction is asking their employees not to grow their wage and benefit costs."
Hacker also said some other jurisdictions have been able to get money back from labor groups in budget negotiations, allowing jobs to be saved. That's something he said couldn't be worked out in North Las Vegas.
Hacker said even though the jail is closing, community safety will not be a concern as the jail space they're leasing from Las Vegas is three miles away, and anyone who needs to go to jail will.
Some residents, however, have argued that with fewer police, firefighters and other emergency workers, safety and maintenance will be diminished.
City leaders added that people booked into jail by North Las Vegas will stay under the supervision and custody of North Las Vegas.
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