| Updated: 4/30/2009 10:23 pm |
Published: 4/30/2009 7:39 pm
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Let the budget battle begin. Thursday night, Mayor Kathy Taylor presented next year’s budget proposal to the city council. In it, she asks police officers and firefighters to make 4-day furloughs a part of next year’s contract, and other city departments may be asked to do the same. FOX 23’s Douglas Clark has details.
The Mayor must have a balanced budget plan in place at the start of the fiscal year, which begins July first. And with the city facing a $13 million budget gap, each department has been asked to cut 7% from its budget. That could include 4-day furloughs. Employees understand, but they’re not happy about it.
With Mayor Kathy Taylor flirting with the idea of forcing city workers to take four unpaid days off next year, city hall is buzzing with opinions.
“I just hope they look at some other options,” says Willette Watts.
“I can handle it. I’ll have to offset it with a part-time job. I have a part-time job, so it won’t be hardship for me. Maybe some others who have families with kids,” says another woman.
The idea of furloughs is not new. One woman, who didn’t want to give her name, has worked for the city for 25 years and has been asked to take a furlough
before.
“You really have no choice if you want to keep your job. I’d rather have a furlough than be laid off.”
The mayor says the four-day furloughs would equate to a 1.5% pay cut for every city employee. She estimates that would save the city about $2.5 million, money needed to offset rising expenses and shrinking revenues.
My perception is that people understand,” says Tulsa employee Dave Lister. “Cuts have to be made and if furloughs mean someone doesn’t have to lose a job, I’m for it.”
“I’m not overly concerned if we have a few days off because if it can stop layoffs,” says city employee Loretta Bailey.
But even some who understand the need for the furloughs admit they’re largely in the dark about the details.
“We hear things in the media and we really don’t know what’s going to happen. but we’re not happy about it.”
The Mayor says the alternative to furloughs is to permanently decrease the city’s payroll by $2.5 million, which would mean eliminating additional positions and cutting core services.
Right now, 96 positions would be eliminated as part of next year's budget. Seventeen of them are currently filled.
Councilors can now make changes to the budget. It goes into effect July 1st.
