The City of Pacific is avoiding layoffs by tightening its belt.

To close the gap on a projected $300,000 budget shortfall for the remainder of the year, City Hall will be closed for five days, workers will take planned and voluntary furloughs and non-essential services will be reduced.

“But citizens should not see a dramatic decrease in services,” said Mayor Richard Hildreth.

Despite a sour economy and leaner revenues, the city should overcome the challenges because it had budgeted conservatively for 2009, Hildreth said.

“We’re going to come out of this stronger in the long run,” he said.

To make up for the budget shortfall, City Hall will be closed on one Monday in each of the next five months – Aug. 31, Sept. 14, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 5. To accommodate the change, the Sept. 14 City Council meeting has been rescheduled for Sept. 15.

In addition, three scheduled city employee workshops have been cancelled, Hildreth said.

All city employees, with the exception of public safety, will observe non-paid furloughs on those closures. City department heads also will be taking five additional furlough days in the ensuing five months to help balance the budget, Hildreth said.

Employees also will take voluntary furloughs, job share in some instances and consolidate duties, Hildreth said.

The sacrifices have been considerable, Hildreth said, placing more workload on the few.

“I would like to reward them in some way as we pull out of this,” Hildreth said.

Public safety has contributed to the cause, Hildreth said, by restructuring its contracts to make similar cutbacks.

Hildreth said the city should be able so survive its budgetary bump, thanks to a long tradition of volunteer support and donations.

“And we’re seeing signs of the economy turning around,” Hildreth said.