SPECIAL City Info Weekly - 2009/03/09 (Archive)

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City considers ways to reduce spending

On March 12, the Longview City Council will receive a report about the current financial condition of the City.  The report will include a summary of the 2007-2008 year-end closing as well as new general fund budget projections for 2009, based on revenue trends through 2008 and early 2009.

“It should come as no surprise that the City is experiencing some of the same revenue downturns that are being felt throughout the country,” reported City Manager Bob Gregory.  “The most serious issue for the City is the decline in our sales and use tax receipts.  It is becoming clear that the current trends will most likely continue through 2009, and we should not anticipate significant impact from the economic stimulus efforts until the latter part of 2010 at the earliest.”

The City is considering several measures to control and reduce expenditures, including no new merit step salary increases for employees, no cost-of-living salary increases for 2010, and not filling vacancies in positions as they occur.

Other measures being considered include job-sharing, retirement incentives, unpaid furloughs, and alternate work schedules.  The City is currently researching alternate work schedules which could include increasing hours of operation for some offices Monday through Thursday with closures on Fridays.  The public will be able to voice their opinions on the alternate work week schedule within the next few weeks.

“Probably the least popular idea we’re considering, but one that would provide significant savings, is to implement unpaid employee furloughs.  This could include scheduled furlough days that would result in the closing of City offices and the consequent reduction of services on certain days, above and beyond the alternate work schedule being researched,” said Gregory. 

“It’s extremely important to emphasize that even after some or all of these measures are evaluated and implemented, we may still need to consider further staffing level and service reductions.  These measures, as dramatic as they may seem, may not be enough to offset the steep reductions in revenues that we are experiencing now.”

“I believe our area will come out of the recession in better health and be better positioned for growth than many others, thanks in large part to the ongoing professional leadership of our finance director, Kurt Sacha, and the Longview City Council.  I have long been proud of this organization, and that will continue to be the case as we weather this unprecedented economic storm together.

For more information:  Contact the City’s Executive Office at 442-5004

• 2009 All Employees Salary Memo