Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins announced on Friday his administration notified nine employees they would be laid off, beginning July 15.
The Mayor's Office said in a release this is part of a workforce reduction series to decrease budgeted spending. The layoffs, in combination with other measures, will amount to $2.6 million in savings.
According to the release, seven employees will be retiring and five resigned voluntarily.
Hopkins said his administration spent the past month discussing with four labor unions that represent the city's employees.
The unions were asked to consider reopening their contracts and work with the administration to reduce some of the benefits, such as pay raises, but they did not come to an agreement.
“I respect that it is their right to take that position but I have an obligation to find savings in our budget and, unfortunately, salaries and related benefits consume approximately 70% of Cranston’s municipal budget," said Hopkins in a statement.
Hopkins added there will not be eliminations of emergency service fire and police department employees.
“One of my priorities in this financial realignment was to ensure the safety of Cranston’s families, neighborhoods, and businesses and to keep providing top-rated public safety responses," he said.
Hopkins emphasized there will be further budget evaluations implemented in the future.
“In these difficult times managing past the pandemic with limited resources and historic inflation, our city government has been seriously impacted," Hopkins added. "Taxpayers will be best served by these difficult choices."