City Weighs Ways To Save Money

The city has begun to take a hard look at how it will make the most of an ever-tightening budget.

One proposal would eliminate its road repair program and pay the county or a contractor to fill potholes instead.

At least one council member says there are other departments that have staff levels that could be pared.

Councilmember Lara Bradburn said the council has talked about cutting taxes without crippling the city's ability to pay for a lengthy list of needed capital projects, but there seems to be little motivation to eliminate positions.

"I want to reduce taxes, too, but if you want to reduce taxes, you reduce positions you don't need," she said. "Do what you say, and that means hard decisions."

The council met for a budget workshop Tuesday night to review a proposed $9.03 million dollar general fund budget for 2008-09. City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha had asked staffers to take a conservative approach to the budget by using last year's millage rate of 6.32 mills. The council has said it hopes to stick to that figure this year.

Councilmember Joe Bernardini said Wednesday he hopes Norman-Vacha will have more suggestions "on what she thought we could have streamlined."

A park attendant position in the parks and recreation department likely won't be filled. Public Works Director Emory Pierce also brought a cost-saving proposal to the council Tuesday.

Pierce recommends cutting one position and downgrading an existing vacant position in the streets department and contracting out road repair work to the county or a private firm.

That would save about $50,000 next year and free up some 1,000 hours for staffers to focus on other things, Pierce said. The city also would avoid the expense of replacing its aging asphalt patch truck, which could cost $120,000.

Council members applauded that idea.

But the city needs to do more than save money, said Bradburn, who has for the last two years requested the city put together a long-range plan for capital improvement projects. There could be as much as $1.5 million in general fund reserve money by the end of next year, said Finance Director Steve Baumgartner.

The University of Florida has offered to assist the city in creating that plan, Bradburn said. Once it's in place, there needs to be a full-time staffer dedicated to overseeing the legwork needed to put the plan in action - especially applying for state and federal funding and other grants.

Bradburn maintains the city is "overstaffed in administration" positions that the city could eliminate, freeing up money for the special projects coordinator.

"We have to make a concerted effort to find alternative funding sources because we can't raise ad valorem taxes," she said.

Mayor David Pugh Jr. said existing staff has done a good job in that respect and that he didn't "see a need for a position of that nature at this point in time."

Pugh added, "I'm not a firm believer in an economic crisis to cut positions and add positions somewhere else."

Cost-of-living raise up for debate

The general fund examined by the council Wednesday did not include a cost-of-living increase for employees.

Such a raise in the past has corresponded with the rise in the Consumer Price Index, which usually hovers at about 2 percent. To give one this year could cost some $100,000.

At least a few council members are split on the issue. Bradburn and Bernardini said they likely would support some increase.

But Pugh said the city can't afford it, and has to do what's best for taxpayers: Cut the millage rate. City employees might have to be content with simply keeping their jobs, he said.

"And right now, I'd rather have a job," he said.