More than 40% of city of Harvey staff placed on unpaid leave amid budget crisis

HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) -- Significant furloughs are impacting employees from multiple city of Harvey departments.

The Harvey Fire Department said it will be operating with just over half of its staff. Harvey Mayor Christopher J. Clark said his administration is working to ensure these furloughs are temporary as the city remains shut down.

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Days after Harvey leaders said they are facing a financial emergency, dozens of city employees and first responders got notices that they are out of a job, for now.

"It's something that was a hard decision for us to make, but it's something that we needed to do in order to keep our city stable," Clark said.

Faced with a $140 million debt from previous administrations, last week, the Harvey City Council voted to apply for "financially distressed city" status with the state, which temporary shut the city down.

"This has been many years of mismanagement, of overextended finances," Clark said.

The city says 69 employees, across multiple departments, including police and fire, have been temporarily furloughed, without pay or benefits. Ninety-eight essential personnel will report to work to maintain core city operations. But overall, 41% of city staff will not return to work on Tuesday.

"We're hoping and we're going to do everything that we possibly can within our power to get them back to work as soon as possible," Clark said.

These temporary cuts are being felt deep within the fire department, which lost 17 firefighters to furloughs.

"It was like we already knew it was going to happen. But having it official is kind of like the nail in the coffin," said furloughed Firefighter Armauni Dixon.

Harvey firefighters are concerned over what this will mean for their team and the city they serve.

"It's going to be a threat to the residents. It's going to be a threat to the firefighters that are left over," said Harvey Firemen's Association Local 471 President Nicholas Capolillo.

The city says a public safety continuity plan has been activated, and the county and neighboring cities stand ready to assist if additional first responders are needed. But for these firefighters, who have become like family, the uncertainty is crippling.

"Many of the new guys that are coming on the department in the last year have kids. Some of them are expecting kids in the next six weeks. So, it's just, it's gut-wrenching. We all feel ripped apart," said Harvey Firemen's Association Local 471 Secretary Keith Freeman.

The city says furloughed employees will be paid until the end of the month.

ABC7 asked the mayor if it is possible that not all furloughed employees will be able to return. He says while it is possible, his administration is focused on bringing everyone back while hoping the state can provide some relief money.