KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Olathe city government to make cuts to its budget, including furloughing city employees.

The city announced on its website Wednesday night that it will implement citywide furloughs except for frontline police officers and firefighters, according to a news release posted on its website.

There also will be a citywide hiring freeze of current openings and future jobs, and the city plans to put a spending cap on non-personnel related expenses.

In the Wednesday night release, the city stated that it has not faced a budget challenge this severe in decades.

The city states in the release the revenue problems will extend into 2021.