City Proposes Slashing 24 Positions

Fresh from dealing with Tropical Storm Debby, city employees are facing another bad situation.

New Port Richey officials are proposing slashing $1 million from next fiscal year’s general fund budget. This would result in 24 city positions being cut. Not all of the 24 positions cut would be layoffs. Some would be vacant positions left unfilled.

Confronted with dire financial projections, city officials are proposing a $16.5 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2013, which starts Oct 1, 2012. The general fund pays for police, fire, public works, parks and recreation and other common services.

According to City Manager John Schneiger's media release, the $1 million cut is being proposed to balance the general fund budget. The general fund budget for the current fiscal year is $17.6 million.

“Unfortunately, this reduction of six percent was only possible through the elimination and freezing of 24 positions,” the release stated.

Schneiger said in an interview that 15 of the positions in the proposed reduction are filled. Eight are full-time jobs, and six are part-time. The remaining positions are already unfilled and will be frozen or eliminated. The cuts are across the board for essentially all departments, he said.

The general fund is also balanced using $130,000 in reserves and a small contingency of $250,000.

The total city budget being proposed for fiscal year 2013 is $43 million. The current fiscal year’s total budget is $49 million.

The city’s revenue is going to drop 7 percent in the coming fiscal year. It also has a Community Redevelopment Agency plagued by debt stemming from real estate purchases that the city has failed to unload.

The city deficit could top $15 million in 2017 if it doesn’t plug financial holes, according to a recent estimate.  

Schneiger said the reductions are going to be difficult, but that these are tough times. Layoffs would take effect Sept. 30, the last day of the current budget year,  to give employees time to find other jobs, he said.

As for city services?

"They're going to decrease, but we're going to do the best we can to maximize the services we offer," he said. 

Schneiger said these are his recommendations, but it will be the city Council who has the final word on cuts.

"I think its my responsinility to recommend what's in the best interest of the community," he said.

The city will be having  a series of meetings that the public is urged to attend.

The schedule is:

• July 10 – Presentation by County Property Appraiser Mike Wells
• July 17 – Public hearing on Stormwater and Street Lighting rates
• July 24 – Special meeting to approve a tentative millage rate
• Aug. 24 – CRA Board reviews budget