D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is expected to issue an order to freeze hiring and promotions of city workers on Monday, a mayor’s spokeswoman confirmed.
D.C. Council Chairman Vince Gray called on Fenty to issue the freeze to help cover a $175 million budget gap for fiscal year 2011, which started Friday.
On Monday morning, Gray said he, the mayor and their respective staffs have met and he expects the freeze to be issued later in the day.
“This will stop spending from running away from us as we move forward into the fiscal year,” Gray said. The council chairman, who is also likely the city’s next mayor, has said he wants to look at spending cuts before examining raising revenue, a point he reiterated Monday morning.
But reducing spending won’t be easy, Gray said.
“We’re cut to the bone, actually we’re cut the bone marrow,” he said.
