Fifteen days and counting. It's a deadline looming for Durham city worker Max Davis. It's the day he could be out of work.

"With the deadline being the 30th, people need to know where they stand," Davis said Monday.

He is one of about 31 people who were facing unemployment because of cutbacks at the city of Durham. City leaders realized last year the municipality could face a $24 to $40 million deficit. They were able to save all programs, but they had to trim in places. Part of that impacts people like Davis.

He works for the street cleaning department and has worked for the city 20 years now.

"This is the first time I've ever seen us get to the point where we've actually had to lay people off," Davis said. "It has been stressful because I have applied at some other places. My number one option is: I would like to continue serving the citizens of Durham."

The city has placed 15 of those workers impacted by the cuts in other jobs that were open.

"Myself, I've been on five interviews," Davis said. "It's just nerve-racking waiting around. I'm very optimistic having been on five interviews."

Adding to the nerves: the fact that Davis will be feeding another mouth later this year. His wife, Rhonda, is pregnant and is due in September.

"We're not just numbers," Max said. "We're people - people with families."

Rhonda said if Max receives a severance package, he would not immediately be eligible for unemployment.

"Our concern is keeping our insurance for our family and making sure he can keep his benefits intact because he still has to retire and I am a primary homemaker," she said. "There's not a lot of help available for families in our situation until you hit rock bottom. Our objective would not to be rock-bottom."

She said Max makes too much money to qualify for emergency funds or any assistance.

"To qualify, you cannot have a certain amount of assets," Rhonda said. "Of course - we want to keep our home, keep the lifestyle that our family's become accustomed to. It's not a rich lifestyle, but it's a comfortable lifestyle."