SYRACUSE -- Many cities have been able to kick the budget deficit can down the road - but they are quickly running out of road. Years of budget problems are catching up with cities, counties and states around the country. Stockton, California declared bankruptcy two weeks ago and now the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania has defied a court order by cutting every employee’s pay to minimum wage. In Syracuse today, people were shocked by the drastic move.
"It's an issue we're all facing. How do you make ends meet, either as a household or a town or a nation?" Christine Coffman said.
Syracuse City Hall has been watching other cities struggle and trying to avoid a similar collapse. The city's budget director says Syracuse has a 30 million dollar deficit projected for next year and more money going out than coming in.
"When you can't come to a solution, you get hit in the face - and that's what Scranton is dealing with today," said Budget Director Mary Vossler.
The city's budget director says there is no quick fix and solutions will be difficult.
70% of Syracuse's 246 million dollar budget goes to paychecks and benefits. Vossler says the city needs help with those costs.
"We're working on a plan but everybody needs to come to the table. You have to have the council come to the table, you have to have the unions come to the table and you have to have the administration come to the table. And the three working groups - hopefully we can come to some solutions.” Vossler said.
Both the mayor and budget director have said that without some budget relief, Syracuse is less than four years away from being bankrupt.
