The handwriting is on the wall.

The city of Shreveport will need to cut personnel costs to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city's first step of offering a voluntary furlough program will not be the last.

One can expect involuntary furloughs and then job reductions absent the discovery of a pot of gold.

At some juncture the city must reduce its operating budget. Each day of delay is another day of spending from a dwindling piggy bank.

The administration's proposed budget cuts of $19 million do not equate to the administration's projected loss of $25 million from the COVID shutdown.

The city council must approve the budget cuts.

So the question is when will they presented formally to the council in the form of ordinances?