YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima Mayor Dave Edler said this morning that news reports that the city is preparing for layoffs are overblown.

Responding to a KAPP-TV story that has been picked up the AP wire, Edler said the city is reviewing options given the long decline in sales tax revenue and a more recent uptick in jail costs.

But layoffs are not imminent, he said.

“If the trend continues, we could be at that place,” he said. “But at this moment, we are not at this place.”

Earlier this year, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported declines in the city’s revenues could ultimately result in staff reductions.

The city’s staff has been directed to prepare options for possible layoffs as part of planning for the city’s 2010 budget.

-- Chris Bristol