PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Jeannette City leaders say layoffs will likely be unavoidable as the city struggles to fix its financial problems.

The 37 city employees met with leaders in council chambers Monday.

Mayor Robert Carter says he wanted to ask employees and their union leaders for suggestions on how to make cuts that would minimize pain to employees. He asked union leaders to come back to him with ideas by the end of the week.

The city owes about $350,000 to the police pension fund for last year.

In addition, they need more than $500,000 for the coming year.

This is all worsened by money owed to Frank Trigona, who gained notoriety for letting his goats roam free on city streets.

A judge ruled last month that the city must pay Trigona and his attorney more than $200,000 for withholding permits for his rental properties after he failed to pay taxes.

The mayor says there are a lot of positive things happening in the city, there just isn’t enough money to go around. He says he is committed to finding the best possible solution.

If layoffs are unavoidable, the city would have to give the affected employees two weeks notice. The layoffs would likely happen in early March.

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