Emanuel works to fill budget gap after furloughs

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is proposing ways to help fill a $31 million budget gap now that an agreement with workers to take furlough days has ended.

Emanuel said Friday he has two measures to save $20 million through the end of the year while he waits on labor leaders to come up with a plan to save the other $11 million — or risk more than 600 layoffs.

The Chicago Democrat says $10 million in savings will come from not filling as many as 200 jobs. Another $10 million comes from partnering city health clinics with a federal program.

He says labor leaders want a couple more weeks to come up with their plan for workplace changes to save money now that the furlough days are gone.