Layoff notices began going out Thursday to hundreds of Dallas city employees in an attempt to balance the growing Dallas budget shortfall.
The Parks and Recreation Department will see the hardest hits, city officials said. The Dallas Zoo will loose roughly 200 workers now that a private group manages the company.
The Development Services Department, which is responsible for building permits and inspections, will also see a reduction in workers, city manager Mary Suhm said.
The city will try to cushion the blow of the layoffs by giving all pink-slipped employees a packet informing them on other city jobs that will be opening soon -- jobs funded by federal stimulus and grant money.
Dallas is struggling to close a $190 million gap in its $1.9 billion budget for the next fiscal year.
All employees who receive layoff notices will be able to stay in their current jobs until Oct. 1, when the new city budget takes effect.
The city expects to layoff 816 permanent employees and 88 temporary employees, the Dallas Morning News reported.
