Starting Sunday, Denver city workers will begin mandatory unpaid furloughs, aimed at saving $10 million this year as the city faces a $250 million budget shortfall.
Why it matters: The furloughs hit the backbone of city operations, levying a financial toll on employees who are already grappling with low morale.
By the numbers: Roughly 9,000 of Denver’s 14,000 city employees are affected, city finance department spokesperson Laura Swartz tells us.
- All must take off two unpaid days: Aug. 29 and Nov. 28.
- Workers earning over $61,000 take even more — up to five extra furlough days for mayoral appointees making $150,000 or more.
Zoom in: Mayor Mike Johnston, whose administration proposed the plan, will partake in the furloughs, as will City Clerk and Recorder Paul López…