"Everything Is on the Table" as Fischer Prepares Tight Budget

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's first city budget may be one of the leanest yet. Fischer is facing a roughly $20 million shortfall with uncertain growth.The budget for the next fiscal year will depend largely on revenue growth predictions, which will likely be complete in April, once the latest tax receipts are compiled.Previous budgets with comparable shortfalls have led to furloughs and layoffs for city employees. Mayor's spokesperson Chris Poynter says that's possible again for the next fiscal year."With the budget reductions that we've been through—that the city's been through thus far—we're pretty much now cutting into the bone. It'll be the mayor's goal to not have any layoffs, but everything's on the table," he says.Fischer will present his budget to the Metro Council in late May. The body will have until the end of June to revise and approve it.