Calumet City laid off 46 city employees amid budget deficits

Calumet City has laid off 46 employees in May as part of efforts to address multi-year budget deficits that ranged from $2.8 million to $4.7 million since 2023. The city council voted to transfer $4 million from a 2023 bond to pay immediate bills while pursuing an $8 million loan to reimburse vendors and avoid further cuts. Mayor Thaddeus Jones said the transfer and expected $3.7 million surplus for the upcoming budget, achieved in part by better tax collection and new local taxes, should prevent additional layoffs. The layoffs were cited as a prior action taken this year to reduce costs amid ongoing fiscal strain and upcoming budget discussions scheduled for late July.

Calumet City cut 46 jobs in IL as of July 17, 2026.