City commissioners need to put their money where their mouth is

Nick Lewis

Nov. 8, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Interim City Manager Jimmy Howard and Finance Director Michael Broyles have whittled the city government's budget deficit down to approximately $855,000.

Recommendations getting them to this point include a 5 percent salary reduction, elimination of the longevity bonus as well as managing overtime more closely. Also included are a 28 percent reduction in materials and supplies as well as an 8 percent reduction in contractual services.

All of these are logical choices that have the least impact on the city services, especially public safety; however, they are also the easiest to make because they do not reduce staffing or their scheduled hours. As Howard stated at the work session, direction is needed from the city commission to come up with the remaining $855,000 to balance the budget.

Several options remain on the table, but all will be difficult. Mayor Connie Lawson has said she will give up her salary for the remainder of the year to help; however, none of the city commissioners have followed her lead.

City commissioner Bill Strong has expressed opposition to eliminating city employees' longevity bonuses. If he feels that strongly about it, wouldn't this be an opportunity for him to really stand up for city employees and put his money where his mouth is. It could help keep the longevity bonuses in the budget?

Why haven't any of the city commissioners offered to forfeit their remaining salaries to ease the burden on city employees who are innocent bystanders in the financial crisis the commissioners created? After all, aren't city commissioners public servants, and don't they have other incomes to support them as the mayor stated?

If they were to take this action and save the longevity bonuses, they will still have to come up with $855,000 in other reductions. That won't be easy because there aren't many options left. That's why Howard and Broyles asked for direction.

The city commissioners now must choose from the following options:

--Approve work reduction initiatives such as furloughs or layoffs

--Raise taxes or fees for city services

--Borrow money.

What will they do?

It's now crunch time, and city commissioners need to put their money where their mouth is.

As I've stated many times, they just can't -- or won't -- make the difficult decisions necessary to return the city to financial health. Despite all that's happened, that's still seems to be true.

The commissioners have already stated raising taxes or fees is not an option because times are tough. However, time is not on their side, and they must take some action soon.

More than likely they all will file for re-election next year; so, it really comes down to this. Will they make the tough decisions necessary and prove me wrong, or will they take the easy way out and borrow money, worsening the crisis?

Time will tell, but one thing is for certain; citizens will now find out what their city leaders are really made of when the going gets tough.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0409-39537000