Metro Parks Tacoma to lay off 520 part-time workers due to ‘devastating’ COVID-19 impacts
Metro Parks Tacoma is laying off 520 part-time and seasonal workers as it faces a financial toll stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Metro Parks made the announcement Friday that the layoffs are part of significant budget cuts due to system-wide closures.
“The budget impact is coming into focus now, and it’s devastating,” Metro Parks executive director Shon Sylvia said in a press release. “We estimate our losses could reach $13 million, depending on how long this situation continues. We’re all in shock over how quickly it came to this. We strongly urge Congress to target its next round of relief toward local governments.”
The layoffs are effective Tuesday, March 31.
Park district leaders project lower revenues from sales taxes and property taxes.
In addition, 44 percent of the overall budget comes from “earned revenue” — fees associated with attendance, programs, classes, facility rentals and more.
“The system-wide closure means the district isn’t receiving any earned revenue,” Metro Parks said in a news release.
All managers and non-represented staff will see temporary reductions in pay or hours, with senior leaders taking a larger reduction, Metro Parks said.
Other steps include:
- Freezing spending and hiring.
- Tapping emergency funding from district reserves.
- Asking represented staff to participate in the reductions.
All full-time employees will experience pay cuts and furloughs, said Metro Parks spokesperson Hunter George.
Metro Parks controls more than 70 properties across roughly 3,000 acres, including Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Meadow Park Golf Course, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, community centers, pools, spraygrounds, parks, hundreds of recreation programs and more.
District leaders are working with staff to manage essential functions, including animal care, building systems, basic parks operations and maintenance.
“I’ve worked at Metro Parks for more than 20 years and I know the staff well, and this is heartbreaking,” Sylvia said. “They helped make this one of the best systems in the nation.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
