02/22/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e IV. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER ON BUDGET REDUCTIONS Mr. Gleason reported on the status of the current year's budget. Mr. Gleason said that the budget is the council's ultimate policy document and short-range planning tool. He said that it is the responsibility of the City Manager to execute the decisions outlined in the adopted budget and that he may not expend funds outside that budget. He referred to the presentation made to the Budget Committee and reiterated concern about the I8-month financial outlook for Eugene. Mr. Gleason reviewed the figures that led to this concern and explained that City staff is working to eliminate $1.2 million from the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1982. He outlined the steps that were being taken to accomplish this reduction in expenditures and said that he felt they were prudent fiscal steps, rather than catastrophic or dramatic adjustments. He said that these steps would result in a noticeable reduction of services to patrons, but that they would not create a desperate situation. Mr. Gleason said that every department supported by the General Fund would be affected by the reductions, including the City Manager's Office. Mr. Gleason said that he was making the reductions based on the following three goals: 1) to minimize the impact of the cuts on clients; 2) to minimize the impact of the cuts on permanent City employees; and 3) to maintain the capacity of the City to do business. He said that to accomplish the needed reductions, $800,000 of discretionary expenses would be cut, such as costs of travel, training, and temporary help; and $300,000 would be cut through elimination of full-time regular positions. He said that this would result in the elimination of 30-35 positions in the coming year, in addition to the 30 positions already being held vacant. He said that the total reduction of 70-75 positions would mean a reduction of 8 percent of the City's overall work force. Mr. Gleason explained that reduction of positions would not begin for several weeks, and that employees would be given 30 days' notice of the elimination of their positions. He said that the City will make every effort to find those employees positions in other branches of the City, or, through the efforts of the Personnel Department, elsewhere in the area. Mr. Gleason said that sen- sitivity for the City's Affirmative Action obligations will be maintained throughout the reduction process. Mr. Gleason noted that he had received 120 recommendations from employees on ways to effect the $1.2 million reduction. Mr. Gleason then listed specific reductions that would be made, including reductions in hours and purchasing in the Library; increased user fees for the Library and for recreation facilities; reduced maintenance of parks and equipment; postponement of repairs to Jefferson Pool; and reductions in staffing of certain Fire Department satellite stations. Mr. Gleason said he did not believe the staff reductions in the Fire Department would result in increased risk or substantially increased response time. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 22, 1982 Page 14