The executive director of Denver’s Office of Human Resources, Kathy Nesbitt, said Thursday the city’s projected $200 million deficit in 2026 would likely mean “hundreds” of city workers will be laid off, necessitating dramatic changes in some city personnel rules.
The estimate of “hundreds” of workers being cut from their jobs marked the first time the city has provided a firm estimate of the number of layoffs the city will have to implement.
Nesbitt has also unveiled proposed changes to a city personnel rule that provided job protection and seniority privileges for long term city workers. Career Service Rule 14 provided job protection for workers based on their years of service, and allowed them to move to other city positions if their position was cut. Nesbitt’s proposed changes — which are supported by Mayor Mike Johnston — would do away with those protections and make it easier to lay off longer term city workers…