Answers On Layoffs Announced At City Council Meeting
COLUMBUS, Ohio—With a $13 million budget gap hovering at City Hall, Mayor Michael Coleman is being forced to make some tough decisions.
After four unions rejected the mayor’s proposal to give up salary raises this year, Coleman has been forced to cut several positions and will soon make even more layoffs, NBC 4‘s Lauren Diedrich reported.
A City Council representative said council members were working late into the day to try to figure out what else the city can cut to make up for its multi-million-dollar budget issue.
Last week, Coleman announced 12 employees would be laid off and that there would be a five-day temporary layoff for non-uniformed city workers.
On Tuesday, 26 Columbus police recruits were laid off before they graduated.
Coleman said the layoffs and temporary layoffs would make up about half the $13 million deficit.
“Nobody in this city is anymore precluded, excluded or insulated from the economic challenges that we have,“ Coleman said.
Council released the breakdown of the layoffs and cuts at their meeting Monday night, according to NBC 4‘s Ana Jackson. The proposed breakdown is as follows:
Fire pay raise delay - $2,977,426
Layoff 26 police cadets - $1,251,800
Temporary layoffs - $1,654,762
Additional layoffs - $540,196
Reduce yard waste - $2,100,000
Reduce fuel budget -$1,000,000
Reduce police fleet purchase - $800,000
Police upper management vacancy - $100,000
Strike force reduction - $750,000
Eliminate Columbus Downtown Development Corporation subsidy - $44,810
Sister cities - $45,000
Experience Columbus - $280,500
Auditor - $310,178
Judges - $285,000
Clerk - $100,000
Council - $112,000
Natural gas - $309,522
Buyout surplus - $338,806
The reduced fuel budget is due to decreased fuel prices and the police upper management vacancy means that a deputy chief or commander will not not be replaced when the new police chief is named.
The proposal would eliminate the strike force completely. Experience Columbus wouldl ose their subsidy from their city. The proposed auditor, judges and clerk cuts are vacancies that won’t be filled.
City council has the five-day furlough, as well. Natural gas costs were less than anticipated, which accounts for the savings.
Council members will likely also announce to the public if any other programs or departments will face cuts to balance the budget.
The police union said they would attend the meeting, along with family members of the laid-off police recruits.
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Reader Reactions
Since you are so against rail, how about the $1.6 billion for 5 miles of roadway on the split redo?
Improving transit is an investment for our city, one badly needed. The split will be redone in another 30 years, at the same cost or more and will continue to destroy businesses and neighborhoods. Is paving under our city really the way to go?
Well those are some nice cuts and to read in the paper today it looks like the fireman won’t be safe for long. I think the Mayor might have put his foot in his mouth when promising them no layoffs. Instead a thank you would have been fine and a I will try to not take your jobs! I see they are going to completely cut the strike force. I read the strike force produced more stats in 08 then any specialized unit on a short term basis. Thats pretty impressive to a city resident who has to raise kids. For the mayor I guess “no big deal” I like what the guy said below cut all city cars that are non police function. I’m sure they can all get a free pass on the Coleman Light Rail Express for their inconvenience.
I wonder if the Mayor, Council, and the administration are willing to lead by example, especially since the Mayor has said no one is off limits. Since they are asking some of the unions to remain at their 07 pay grade, are the Mayor, Council etc. willing to drop their salaries to their 07 level. I noted that the Mayor did say that he was not taking a raise in 09—how about giving up the 08 raise. Also, it makes more sense to cut all city cars, including the Mayor’s, rather than decreasing the police fleet. City employees could be like the rest of us who have to travel for work—use youyr own car and take the mileage deduction on your income tax. The city would save on maintenance and fuel and could sell the cars at auction. Some employees might be so upset that they would quit and then there’s more money saved. I also noted that the CPD took the biggest hit on the cuts by department—just more of the Mayor stomping his feet like the spoiled little guy he is when anyone stands up to him. Shame on you, Mayor. (and Council for going along with him).
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