Published Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:05 AM
10 jobs to be cut, 3% raises OK'd
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
Bryan city officials are eliminating 10 positions to help recover a $1.3 million shortfall in the general fund budget.
City Manager David Watkins said two of the positions are vacant and will not be filled, while eight people are being laid off. The savings, which includes salaries and benefits, amount to $500,000 to $600,000.
Watkins told the City Council on Tuesday that the rest of the budget shortfall will be recovered through other methods, including changing the way the city offers insurance to retirees and reducing the number of times a park is mowed each year.
The eight employees have been notified, and Watkins said the city is helping them find jobs before their last day, which is set for Sept. 30. The positions came from the finance office, public works, real estate office and the city manager's office. Watkins said their duties will be consolidated.
Councilman Paul Madison said it doesn't make sense to lay off 10 people when staff is considering giving raises to other individuals.
"It just sounds strange to me that we would do that instead of taking care of the individuals we have now," Madison said.
The action did not require a vote by the council. It's the city manager's responsibility to decide staffing issues, including laying off employees. If the council decided to reinstate the positions, Watkins said he doesn't know where they would get the funding.
Chief Financial Officer Charles Cryan said they hoped to have the first public hearing on the budget Aug. 25 and the second Sept. 8.
Watkins said eliminating the positions was the only way to make up for the lower-than-expected funding without increasing property taxes.
Training, buying equipment, maintenance, capital improvements and raises will not be cut, he said, adding that it has been his experience that when a city cuts in those areas it defers the cost another year, making it more difficult on the budget for the following year.
"We, like every other city in the state, are having to make some difficult choices," Watkins said, adding that it's important to look beyond the current fiscal year's budget.
A 3 percent merit increase for employees under the top management will not be cut, Watkins said. He said he will not get a raise and neither will the chief of police. It is unclear who else wouldn't receive the increase.
Many issues impact the budget, including the senior tax freeze, sales tax flattening out, utilities costs going up and outside agencies requesting more funding, he said. Watkins said they are expecting to take an even bigger hit next year, which is why they are being overly conservative this year.
"We have got to make some personal shifts or we're going to just keep digging a hole, and that's what a lot of cities are doing," he said. "Every year we should be looking at is this the best way we can operate -- just like you do in your business."
Cryan said they are continuing to look for other revenue streams. Property taxes make up about 65 percent of the revenue, allowing only 30 percent of the funding to be increased through other ways, he said.
Also at the meeting, the council:
* Approved a grant to improve two major buildings downtown. The Downtown Large Façade Rehabilitation and Preservation Grant Program will provide up to $100,000 for façade improvements for the Wimberly Building and up to $100,000 in renovations to the exterior of the Queen Theater. The city will repay the Bryan Business Council for the Queen project $20,000 annually for the next five years.
The rehabilitation will facilitate leasing the vacant Wimberly space by Texas A&M's Forsyth Gallery for three years. Improvements to the Queen Theater will include: $40,000 for roof repairs; $25,000 for Bryan Street façade improvements; $35,000 for Main Street façade improvements; and $95,000 for the marquee, canopy and crown renovations.
* Condemned four lots: 1003 North Tabor Avenue and 1002, 1004 and 1008 North Washington Avenue. The lots, on which no one lives, were condemned so workers could install a new 5-million-gallon ground storage facility. The ground storage facility will provide additional water and improve current operations. It will replace a smaller, 70-year-old tank that leaks and has roofing issues, officials said.
Comments
13 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Thursday, July 16, 2009 2:11 AM
Comment Title: _____MONEY FOR TY__PINK SLIPS FOR WORKERS_______
Don't forget how generous Mr. Watkins was with the taxpayers money for his buddy Ty Morrow. Folks, while good employees are being laid off, Ty Morrow is STILL drawing his full salary. He has not been on the job for months and months while being paid to do nothing. Then, when he was terminated, Mr. Watkins decided that he should continue to feed at the City's trough. I guess this is his reward for being a frined of Watkins. Something stinks!
Report Abuse
Posted by:
dial tone On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:51 PM
Comment Title: what a disaster!
This kind of 'reasoning' (or lack thereof), is a perfect shadow of the feds right now....."I am too important to leave, but I will make sure others leave, and call it 'executive order'"!!! This is the exact same kind of non-leadership we are seeing from the top down....D.C. to the Brazos Valley..... The next thing that is contradictory about this kind of tyranny, is.......how can the BV or Bryan in particular, attract the best employees in the future, if these are the policies they might expect to face.....none of the screwy politicians ever see beyond their own salaries as to the fall-out of such ill conceived actions. Do the citizens have any avenue of recourse to take this decision and rip it to bits, and allow for some democratic means to figure out the monetary shortfall???) Waste, waste, waste, that is what is within the budget itself, and therein lies the problem, where too many pet projects of those 'in charge' are being funded!!! Pack the City Council meetings, and get on the agenda, and protest this nonsence.....I don't live there, but I have the exact same thing going on in my county/city......big-headed, power-hungry, near morons, leading the 'inmates' so to speak.....rebel....speak up, and get petitions, they will finally have to recognized the existence of someone besides themselves......good luck in the Brazos County top heavy government!
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:00 PM
Comment Title:
Watkins said eliminating the positions was the only way to make up for the lower-than-expected funding without increasing property taxes. **** Truth be told, the revenues were higher for the year over last year - problem is more is being spent on "pet" projects resulting in this supposed deficit.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:34 PM
Comment Title: I Like This Idea
Maybe College Station should do the same. Great Idea..
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:03 PM
Comment Title: Oh my gosh
How did we ever get to this level of leadership in Bryan, College Station and Brazos County. One mayor and county judge got their leadership qualities cooking bar-b-que.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:01 PM
Comment Title:
How much did they say is being spent in Conlee's downtown building block. Yes within 1 block each way to his "sister's wink wink" building. There is enough there to keep the people that were fired. As for Watkins, never mind.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
Jim in Millican TX On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:45 PM
Comment Title: Pay Raises...?
This sounds like a plan that those incompetent boobs in Washington would concoct.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:39 PM
Comment Title: Watkins a disappointment
I realize Watkins is in control of many things and surely will be pointed the finger to when times are rough, or bad decisions made in the city, but I honestly wonder what he is thinking or who in the heck came up with this. To lay people off, but give people money, just doesn't seem right. I suppose the seven men putting mulch down the shrubs on Booneville, denotes a huge savings and cost cutting. I suppose the city going to seminars, paying for food, denotes a savings. I suppose those that you gave a raise to, and the ones you cut, they all feel equally great. Sure we all need a raise with costs rising, but I am not in favor of what is being done in our city. I feel Watkins has done a poor job and I wonder what the city council has to say about it? We need to vote them all out. Oh I forgot, the council doesn't agree either. Wake up Bryan, you are totally making this town a joke. Watkins YOU are the JOKE! I have lost total respect for you.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
Thank God I am still employed and not working for the city On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:22 PM
Comment Title: Layoffs
I find it insane to give raises while eight others are losing their jobs. Don't give raises and let them keep their jobs. Let's see what you are telling them: We don't care they you won't be able to pay your mortgage but your former co-workers will be able to buy extra things. Give me a break
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 11:58 AM
Comment Title: Bryan Layoffs
Actually three of the people on the axe list are from the purchasing department which handles complex purchasing laws that prevent the city from getting sued by jilted contractors. My question is why did we pay Morrow all that money and then as soon as he was cleared he gave the city the finger. He took the money and then ran and the taxpayers should demand that Watkins go with Morrow. Real people are losing their jobs over the city managers bad decision(s).
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:58 AM
Comment Title:
Actually what was revealed in the City Council meeting equates to - if they only gave 2% raises then everybody could have kept their jobs. Very disheartening that they could just write humans off like that.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:55 AM
Comment Title: Nice to know...
It is comforting to know that neither the city manager nor the chief of police will get a raise as others are laid off. Oh, there is no chief of police. It is amazing what some people say in public.
Report Abuse
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:46 AM
Comment Title:
No person should loose their job while others are getting raises. It's just not right. They should cancel all raises and then see if it's necessary for any layoffs. Yes, those loosing raises will complain, but they should be grateful they aren't facing a layoff.
Report Abuse
RSS
Mobile
Daily Emails
Twitter
Facebook
