Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian said the closing of Northside Regional Medical Center in September will likely affect jobs in the city, meaning layoffs.

Citing the potential to keep facilities in the center open and even some offices, the loss of revenue may not be as high as the $900,000 loss first projected, but Limbian couldn't rule out the possibility of layoffs as a result of the closure. 

"Well, unfortunately, layoffs have been on the horizon for quite some time. We anticipate that that's something we would have to look seriously at. I know with union negations coming up, it's going to be a significant issue," said Limbian.

Limbian also told 21 News budget tightening has been happening for the past nine months.  

City officials are expected to sit down soon and decide whether they'll reduce staff.

Limbian admits just like so many others the administration was caught off guard by the announcement that Northside was closing.

He says Mayor Tito Brown would like to avoid job cuts at all costs, but unless there is a major turn around in revenue that's unlikely.

21 News reached out to the Youngstown police and fire unions for their reaction, and they are concern that layoffs could put the safety of the community in jeopardy.

Lieutenant Tony Ciccone, with the International Association of Firefighters Local #312, said, "The citizens are going to suffer for this if we lose personnel.  We're already closing a station.  If we lose more personnel we're going to close more stations.  And the service provided to citizens is going to suffer."

Detective-Sergeant Michael Cox with the Youngstown Police Ranking Officers Union, or YPRO, said, "There's obviously a concern if there's talk of possible layoffs in the city.  But the police department has to maintain a certain number of officers because of the requirements of the grants we've been awarded.  It's also important we maintain an appropriate number of supervisors to patrol officers.  If that changes that is something we would have to address because that could become a liability for the city.  Our goal is to keep our citizens safe.  Crime doesn't stop just because Northside closes."

The mayor was unavailable for comment, but Jeff Limbian says he doesn't expect layoffs this year, but it seems they could be on the horizon next year if the revenue stream doesn't improve.