EmploymentCrossing.com Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced he will consolidate city departments that handle consumer issues, human services, economic development and business affairs, to respond to Chicagos worst budget crisis in a generation. The consolidations will save a mere $5 million. The city faces a $470 million deficit, forcing the mayor to lay off city workers and eliminate thousands of vacancies. Labor unions representing city workers are already preparing for more than 4,000 job eliminations they expect the mayor to announce Wednesday. A member of the City Council said Friday that the deteriorating economy could make things even worse, that the city's projected budget shortfall has worsened from $420 million estimated last month to almost $470 million now. This is a national, worldwide crisis. This is going to get worse. It will not get better. Thats the sad thing, the mayor told the Chicago Sun-Times. In his 19 years in office, the number of city departments has grown as the mayor sought to emphasize the importance of children, senior citizens and business services.
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