2 days ago
After 13 years with City of Denver, employee reacts to layoffs amid budget cuts: "It's gonna be tough"
On Monday, the City of Denver announced 171 city employees would be laid off as the city faces a $200 million gap in next year's budget. The city also shared that it would be eliminating 665 open positions and finding new funding for 92 jobs.
While the 171 is fewer than the possible hundreds the city told CBS Colorado they expected a few months ago, it's still having a big impact on the city council and some city offices.
Now, as layoff emails continue to get sent out this week, some employees are anxious.
Scott Gilmore was one of them, the longtime manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation, receiving his notice Monday.
"I was sending emails this morning about the high line canal, because I was working on the high line canal," Scott Gilmore said, "But I'm off, I'm not going to be doing that anymore."
Gilmore explained that the city emailed him on Monday, in part, "It is with regret that I am providing you with this notification that your position is being abolished and you will be laid off."
Now, after decades of working in public service and 13 years with the city of Denver, his career is coming to an end.
"I'm one of the 170 plus that now have to figure out how I'm gonna pay the bills. How am I gonna take my daughter back to college in Boston in a week, and how do I pay for her tuition?" Scott Gilmore said.
Monday's layoffs came just hours before Denver's city council meeting, where Scott Gilmore's wife, Stacie Gilmore, holds a seat.
"It is a really hard day as an elected official," Stacie Gilmore went on to say, "A few folks, and you all know who you are, because I know you know who you are, said, well, you know what? During ARPA, during the pandemic, we hired a lot of people, and so there's a lot of fluff in our city. Well, you know what today? Those fluff are human beings."
And Scott Gilmore feels proud to have been one of those human beings. He now says he's hopeful for those who still get to clock in every day, as he navigates an uncertain future.
"The employees are what make this city great. They're the ones that go out and fill the potholes. They're the ones who go out and street sweep. They're the ones who go out and mow the grass. They're the ones that do all that work that makes our city a thriving city," Scott Gilmore said, "When we make objects a priority over the people, do we need to reevaluate where we're headed?"
Layoffs are expected to continue through Tuesday. And even as Scott Gilmore is forced to look for a new job, he'll never stop working to make our city better.
"This is my home. This is my family. This is my city. I will be here, and I will be attending park meetings. I will be attending city meetings, and I will be asking hard questions about where the money is," Scott Gilmore said.
The city reports these layoffs account for half of the budget shortfall, but that still means $100 million in cuts still have to be made in order to balance the budget for 2026.
