Nine Lakeville city employees have lost their jobs and three others have been reduced to part-time status as the city makes up for a projected $1.44 million budget deficit.

In addition, all full-time employees will be required to take three days off without pay before the end of the year. City Administrator Steve Mielke and all department directors will take five days off without pay.

The city made the layoffs on Tuesday, eliminating two jobs apiece in the inspection and police departments -- one of which is a police officer's position -- and one job in each of the engineering, information systems, planning, recreation and maintenance departments. The positions reduced to part-time status are in finance, human resources and parks.

One of the police jobs cut was in community policing, and one was a police officer. Despite the loss, emergency services won't be affected, Mielke said.

"The cuts were made with the idea of protecting our core services," he said.

Reductions in maintenance will mean less grass mowing in some areas considered less critical, while preserving the more critical street maintenance, Mielke said.

According to Mielke, the reduction in jobs is a long-term decision. The unpaid leave program, he said, eliminated the need to cut two or three more jobs.

The $1.44 million shortfall equals 6.6 percent of the city's $21.97 million operating budget. Approximately half of that is because of the loss of Market Value Homestead Credit payments from the state. Under that plan, homeowners receive tax relief from the state, which then passes that money on to the city.

Whole homeowners continue to get the tax break, Mielke said, the state no longer is passing the money on to the city, which has meant a loss of 3 percent of the city's revenue.

Other revenue losses have come from declines in building permits, platting fees and charges, and investment income, as well as delinquent property taxes.

The latest job reductions follow the loss of eight positions last year. Mielke said the city now has 155 full-time equivalent city workers, about equal to the number it had five years ago. Meanwhile, the city's population has increased 12 percent since then.

The City Council expects to vote on a revised budget, which will include the savings gained through the layoffs, on April 6.

Dean Spiros • 952-882-9203