Pawtucket laying off 17 employees

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - The city of Pawtucket is laying off 17 employees to help close a projected $5 million hole in its operating budget.

The Pawtucket Times reported that 14 full-time and three part-time municipal employees were laid off, effective Friday, including 10 full-time Parks and Recreations attendants.

The city already had eliminated 24 positions this fiscal year.

Pawtucket’s deficit could top $10 million, and Mayor James Doyle has said he could not guarantee this week’s layoffs would be the last.

Union officials questioned whether the layoffs would close the gap.

Doyle and other mayors across Rhode Island are waiting to find out how much state aide will be cut as Gov. Don Carcieri seeks to close a massive budget deficit this year.