Sparks layoffs increase

SPARKS -- A day after the city laid off 34 full-time employees, the town's largest sporting goods store is laying off about 50 workers.

Managers of the Scheels at the Legends at Sparks Marina say the reductions are needed because they overhired during the holiday shopping season.

The 295,000-square-foot megastore that opened in September is billed as the world's largest sporting and outdoor retail center.

The city announced its layoffs on Tuesday along with a reduction in services as part of an effort to cut $2.7 million from its new budget. That move follows a $4.5 million cut in last year's budget.

"We have exercised extreme diligence with the city's fiscal affairs for two years in a very incremental fashion, reducing and eliminating a number of programs, projects and services," City Manager Shaun Carey said in a written statement Tuesday. "We have no other choice now but to reduce work force."

Layoffs were across the board, including 14 in community development, five in administrative services, four in public works, three in the police department, two in parks and recreation, two in finance, two in the fire department and one in the city manager's office.

No police officers or firefighters will be laid off, but vacancies, including six police jobs, will remain vacant. Such programs as D.A.R.E. have been suspended.