BY ALEX CANTATORE

The City of Turlock Budget Subcommittee revealed Thursday that a balanced 2009-2010 budget will likely necessitate a reduction in city staff.

To shrink an estimated $5.1 million General Fund deficit, the initial budget proposal calls for the elimination of 23 filled positions and a 10 percent reduction of the non-personnel operating budget. The Building Department would be hit hardest, losing nine employees.

These cuts would come in addition to those adopted during February’s mid-year budget revision process, which saw a 20 percent operating budget reduction, the freezing of 14 unfilled positions, and the agreement of all city unions to accept an effective 5 percent pay cut.

According to Interim City Manager Gary Hampton, had those actions not been taken earlier this year, cuts would be even more drastic in this proposed budget.

“It was very painful to go through the budget and analyze areas in which we have to make very hard cuts,” said Mayor John Lazar, who served on the Budget Subcommittee. “Unfortunately, with the economy the way it is and what the State of California is going through, it’s just being real.”

The full City Council will review the proposed budget for the first time Tuesday night, and will begin to discuss potential revisions.

“It’s not final at all,” said Hampton. “The cover sheet says working draft, and that’s really what this is; it’s a working draft.”

The proposed budget came about through a series of discussions with department heads and suggestions solicited from city employees. While every effort was made to first cut from non-personnel areas - including a suspension of equipment replacement programs, capital improvements, training, and the city newsletter - the current budget shortfall is too large to close without addressing city employees, which comprise 82 percent of the Turlock General Fund budget.

“We’ve reached a point where we can’t cut any more supplies,” Hampton said, referring to the 30 percent cut from the non-personnel operating budget in the past year. “If we cut it any further people will not have the necessary tools, supplies, and materials to do their jobs.”

According to Hampton, a town facing a $5.1 million budget shortfall has only two options: generate more revenue, or reduce operating costs.

“In today’s economy, trying to generate more revenue is not something that can be done in a two month window,” Hampton said. “We’re kind of relegated to the one option, and that’s reducing operating costs.”

The recommended reductions in Turlock employees would total about 10 percent of the city’s workforce, or 37 employees including the unfilled positions frozen earlier this year. In addition to in-house employees, the proposed budget calls for the elimination of Turlock’s contracted lobbyists and attorney.

“It’s a budget based on limited resources that necessitate tough decisions,” said Vice Mayor Ted Howze, who served on the Budget Subcommittee.

Hampton said the cuts would result in a reduction in services.

The proposed budget is in keeping with past council direction, which asked to see a “top-heavy” organization be pruned of unnecessary managers. Five top-level positions would be eliminated under the proposal, including Recreation Manager Judy Loretelli and Chief Building Official Mark Ellis.

Top-level city officials would also be hit hardest by the recommended termination of management leave and the postponement of merit pay step increases, which combined would total $318,000. However, the elimination of these two perks may require negotiations with city unions.

Even with all of the recommended budget reductions, the City would still be forced to use $2.6 million of reserve funding to balance the General Fund budget. This level of reserve spending is in keeping with the council’s commitment during the mid-year budget process to spend $2.5 million in reserves both this year and next so as to retain a healthy reserve fund, should the economy not recover.

The Council could, if they so choose, elect to spend more of their reserves, which this year will total $14.6 million after repayment of a loan to the Public Safety Facility, to avoid some layoffs.

“We really are talking about people’s lives here,” Hampton said. “… I’ve already had an employee share that, if laid off, he would lose his home.”

The City Council and Hampton will draft a final budget before July 1, when newly appointed City Manager Roy Wasden will assume control of the City of Turlock.

While Hampton admitted he has worked through tough budgets before while serving as a police captain, he has found the process to be a bit different to go through as Interim City Manager.

“I’ll tell you, it weighs on you,” Hampton said. “It’s almost intolerable, but it has to be done.”

“I think it was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in elected office,” Lazar said, echoing Hampton’s comments.

The budget workshop will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, located at 100 South Broadway.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.

Positions suggested for elimination
? Police Department

1 Police Corporal

4 Police Officers *

1 Public Safety Dispatcher *

1 Secretary *

? Fire Department

1 Fire Prevention Inspector

1 Firefighter *

? Administrative Services Department

1 Administrative Services Director **

2 Information Technology Analysts

1 Payroll Coordinator *

? Municipal Services Department

1 Recreation Manager **

1 Laboratory Analyst *

2 Electrical Mechanics *

1 Electrical Instrument Technician *

1 Park Maintenance Worker*

? Development Services Department

Planning

1 Assistant Planner

1 Part-time Assistant

? Building

1 Chief Building Official**

1 Plans Examiner I

2 Building Inspector II

1 Staff Services Assistant

1 Secretary

1 Office Assistant II

1 Part-time Plans Examiner

1 Part-time Office Assistant

? Traffic Engineering

1 Engineering Technician I

? Engineering

1 Support Services Supervisor (Transfer: Housing Services Manager)**

1 Office Assistant II

1 Part-time Surveyor

? Housing

1 Housing Rehab Specialist II

1 Office Assistant II

1 Community Housing Program Supervisor * **

* Positions already frozen in mid-year budget review

** Executive Manager / Manager / Supervisor Positions

Originally published in the Turlock Journal 5/16/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.