Agencies all across Staunton have been forced to get by with limited resources.

City Treasurer Richard Johnson says his office is no exception.

Johnson says, "Always trying to keep up with collections is the meat and bones of keeping that budget flowing."

The treasurer's office is working with one less employee than the state requires.

"Ours would be really tough because I think we are down to what our bare minimum is," adds Johnson.

While technology has eased the workload, Johnson fears more layoffs will cut into services to residents, like balancing fair tax incomes.

He says, "Hampering those efforts by scaling back on people would be counterproductive to what localities need to do in these times."

While Johnson's concerns may not become reality anytime soon, the city has a plan if they do.

City officials are revamping their layoff policy, so if employees are laid off, agencies like the treasurer's office can keep serving people in Staunton.

Deputy City Manager Jim Halasz says, "The economy is bad and our financial situation is good, so we want to update those policies. We hope to never use the policy itself."

The plan includes prioritizing who would be laid off, starting with the most recent hires.

Halasz also says the plan creates a recall period for laid-off employees.

"We hope to never lay anybody off, but if you do, you want to make sure you can retain the workers that can be the best performers for the city," says Halasz.

The policy also mentions that employees who are laid off could be considered for vacant positions in other cities if they qualify.