Published: July 02, 2009 09:16 am      

Atlanta officials lop off 109 corrections job

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta officials are laying off 109 Corrections Department workers as part of the city’s budget-balancing plan.

The department’s budget for the fiscal year that began Wednesday was about $19.7 million, almost a 50 percent decrease from the last year’s budget of $38.5 million.

The City Council voted 8-7 Monday to raise property taxes to cover a $56 million budget gap. City officials say the economic recession has severely reduced its revenues.

The city is planning a job fair Tuesday for the former workers.

Corrections Chief Frank Sizer said the 240 remaining workers will be enough to safely guard the inmates.