HOUSTON, Texas– Mayor John Whitmire has implemented a hiring freeze across the city’s government due to a projected budget deficit exceeding $330 million.
The freeze will affect nearly 5,000 vacant positions in various departments, though it will not apply to the police and fire departments.
The vacancies are mainly in the public works and health sectors, which together account for over 1,200 of the open positions.
The freeze follows an efficiency study by Ernst & Young (EY) that revealed an excessive number of vacancies compared to the city’s size.
Mayor Whitmire believes the hiring freeze will help cut expenses and allow for a reassessment of personnel needs to improve efficiency.
In addition to the deficit, the city faces a structural shortfall that has grown from over $200 million last year to more than $330 million.
Factors like a court ruling requiring higher spending on streets and drainage have contributed to this deficit, which led to two credit rating agencies downgrading Houston’s financial outlook.
Mayor Whitmire’s administration has assured that the freeze will not lead to layoffs. Officials are working to ensure that essential services continue while evaluating cost-saving measures. Further details of the plan will be announced in the coming weeks.