Peoria police officers are not the only city employees who will feel the impact of budget cuts.
When layoffs take effect in January it will leave the parking enforcement unit with fewer officers.

As one of two downtown parking enforcement officers Carl Niemeier brings in a significant chunk of money for Peoria writing tickets each year.

"Parking tickets are 10–dollars, say I write seven–thousand in a year which I've done anywhere between five and seven thousand, times 10 that's 70, 60 thousand dollars," Niemeier said.

A10–year veteran of the city... Niemeier will lose his job the end of the year...leaving 4 parking enforcement officers to cover the entire city.
It's part of a plan to cut 9–percent of the workforce to wipe out a budget deficit that totaled nearly four-and a half-million dollars for next fiscal year.

Niemeier says he's baffled as to why council members would cut his job that brings in revenue especially now at a time they're trying to generate more money.

At–Large district council member Eric Turner says under the current economic climate no one's immune from cuts.

"We will still be able to generate the same revenue granted the people that are currently doing the job will be stretched more than they've ever been stretched. We have no other choice. Every department has got to give something," Turner said.

Niemeier says he holds no animosity toward city leaders but just does not understand the logic behind their decision.

"I think the city's gonna find the first whole year that I'm gone or laid off the revenue's gonna be down. I can almost guarantee it," he added.

He says with additional responsibilities he does not think the other workers will be as efficient...in the meantime Niemeier is trying to focus on getting through the last month and finding another job. In Peoria I'm Denise Jackson.