The city of Chicago has shut down all "non-essential" public services for a day in an attempt to claw back a $300m (£184m) budget deficit.
In the first of three Reduced Service days, rubbish collections were suspended and libraries and health centres were closed.
Workers have been asked to take an enforced unpaid holiday in a move the authorities hope will save $8.3m.
Chicago's Mayor Richard M Daley thanked state employees for their "sacrifice".
"Every dollar we save from these measures helps to save jobs, and in the long-term, maintain service for Chicagoans," he said.
