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Home > Blogs > Hamilton News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > May > 22 > Entry
Cutting 5 -10 percent
Before City Council got the bad news Wednesday that its general fund would essentially dry up in a year if changes weren’t made, city administration asked the department heads to suggest cuts to their budgets.
Three percent would be cut almost immediately and mostly bank on not filling vacant positions. View the cuts here: budget cuts.pdf
Departments heads were also asked to suggest ways to trim between 5 to 10 percent out of their budgets in 2009.
“With 10 percent cuts, you kind of get a menu for City Council to chose from,” said Finance Director Bill Moller.
Not surprisingly, all department heads complied with the request. Though, copies of their reports to the city manager reveal some of their frustrations.
Here are a few excerpts:
Fire Chief Joe Schutte: “At this point, the only feasible way to cut that kind of money (5 percent) is eliminating positions. However, with the minimum staffing levels decribed above, eleminating positions just causes more overtime. It seems we are certainly at the point where paying overtime is costing the city more than filling vacancies. The only alternative to that is negotiating with Local 20 IAFF.” The contract with the firefighters’ union requires 27 firefighters and a shift commander on every shift.
Human Relations Director Vaughn Lewis: “I have never exceeded the budget and I have always been very frugal with expenditures. During this time this department has never had a city vehicle. I went years without a city cell phone… I also believe this department has always been understaffed.” Lewis has been director since 1998.
Parks and Recreation Director Bob Harris: “We are continually asking our staff to do more as our full-time staff continues to shrink and the work load increases or stays the same as was in prior years. The parks and recreation department needs to increase its staff, NOT continue to decrease it.”
Police Chief Neil Ferderlman: “Reducing our budget is a difficult task since our current budget is realistic and based on actual usage. As a result, we do not maintain excessive funds in any on the line items.”
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