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Sept. 2011 - Update - Read archived info.

Mayor Releases Budget

On Mon., Sept. 26, 2011 Mayor Mike McGinn presented his 2012 proposed budget to the City Council. In a briefing to the Coalition of City Unions Budget Director, Beth Goldberg, provided information regarding the impacts associated with the proposed budget. The Coalition learned that for 2012 the City’s General Fund has an $18 million deficit. In 2013 the General Fund is a projected to have a $32.8 million deficit and for 2014 a projected $39 million deficit. As a result of the projected deficit the Mayor has proposed to eliminate a total of 155 Full-Time-Equivalency (FTE) through layoffs, reduction of hours and vacancy elimination to go into effect January 4, 2013. There were also be 43 FTE added to the budget with a net reduction of 112 FTE citywide.

There are impacts to Local 17 positions, which include a total of 13 vacancy eliminations, 12-filled positions eliminated; and 7 positions will be reduced in hours. Local 17 has requested a list of the new positions including classification title and Department.

Local 17 continues to make progress on the span of control issues in the City. The mayor proposed to cut 19 senior level positions, which represents 17% of the cuts. Since 2010 the City has eliminated a total of 110 senior level positions.

While contracting out dollars was not a representative of the savings in this year’s budget, the City has agreed to form a committee to address contracting out. It is the position of Local 17 that if contracting out can be reduced it saves jobs and money for the City. Local 17 members take pride in the work they perform doing it better and more cost effectively.

The next step in the budget process is for the City Council to examine the Mayor’s budget proposal for 2012, hold hearings for employees and the public, and make changes to the package. There are two Public Hearings scheduled for October 4, 2011 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers and October 26, 2011 at 5:30pm in the Council Chambers. There will also be a series of presentations made by City Departments. The final budget will be voted on and adopted on November 21, 2011 by the City Council.

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