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The city of Kansas City, Missouri, has implemented a hiring freeze, affecting about 875 open positions across city departments as the 2027 budget faces a deficit of more than $100 million.

City leaders say expenses like wages, pensions, health care and union contracts are rising faster than revenue, forcing officials to halt most hiring to address the structural budget imbalance.

Documents KSHB 41 News reporter Megan Abundis requested from the city revealed which departments will be most impacted by the freeze, with some already experiencing significant vacancy rates.

The Housing Department has the highest vacancy rate at around 61%, while City Planning has nearly half of its positions unfilled. Public Health has about one-third of its positions vacant.

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