HOXIE — The city of Hoxie has laid off one employee because of a tight budget in 2014.
Mayor Lanny Tinker said the city laid off one worker in the street department and reduced the town's firefighter position from a full-top job to a part-time job. The mayor told The Jonesboro Sun that he also reduced his own salary by $2,500 in 2014.
Tinker said the tight budget is caused by an increase in employee health insurance costs and necessary improvements to the city's sewer system. Revenues are also declining as the city's costs go up.
The city said code enforcement will now by handled by the Hoxie Police Department because of the layoff in the street department.