NewsHound
07-15-2008, 01:00 AM
Delray Beach - Budget cuts are looming and the city's two biggest departments are fighting back.
Police officers and firefighters are objecting to recommendations from the city's budget task force to cut funding for their pension plans and other activities.
The task force's suggestions include reducing the city's contributions to the fire and police pension plan, along with cutting money for skills competitions and fire truck cleaning.
"We believe there are other expenditures that could be waived before attacking the police department," said police union spokesman Vinnie Gray.
Gray pointed to a 25-year tennis contract the city signed with Match Point and ATP that costs the city $2 million annually.
"That's my biggest beef," Gray said. "That alone would solve the city's financial problems."
The departments combined represent the biggest chunk of the city's $104 million requested budget, said task force member Todd L'Herrou.
The task force said the city spends nearly 38 percent of its payroll funding the police and fire pension plan. The report said the city contribution to the fund has been steadily rising over the past 10 years. The result: a $40.7 million unfunded liability that must be paid over the next 30 years.
"If this does not change, the city could go bankrupt," said L'Herrou, who is also chairman of the city's Chamber of Commerce. "They are upset and they have right to be. ... But it's also very tight times."
The city agreed to the contribution when both departments had trouble attracting police officers and firefighters. To avoid direct salary increases, the city added benefits such as the higher pension contribution and the take-home car program.
It was also a time when home values were high and the city had more revenue, said task force member Jim Smith.
"We think it is important for the taxpayers to know this," Smith said. "Our mission is to reduce costs without cutting services to residents."
The unions agree one way to cut costs might be to ask Palm Beach County to provide fire and police services.
"We are not saying we want them to get rid of us; but if you can't afford to provide these basic services, then we need to look at being streamlined," said Mike McCleary, vice president of the local firefighters union.
Mayor Rita Ellis said that going to the county for police and fire services is not a viable alternative.
"It's not necessarily cheaper," she said.
Ellis said she understands why the departments feel targeted but said almost every department in the city will be facing cuts. Any change to police and fire benefits would be part of contract negotiations.
"They need to realize this is a different economy," Ellis said. "We're talking about freezing wages for all other workers, and yet they want to be exempt from this? I'm open to listening to anything they have, but it's not going to be business as usual."
Fire Department employees have already formed a 16-member committee to look at its own budget and propose ways to save money. McCleary said they plan to have FPL do an energy survey to find ways to save money.
He defended the need for washing and detailing equipment, saying it could cost as much as $20,000 to repair trucks not regularly maintained. But he said he understands the task force's role is to ultimately save jobs.
"We are not against the city. We're with them in this whole thing," McCleary said. "We just have to float through the hard times."
Source (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpbudgettask0714pnjul14,0,7140347.story)
Police officers and firefighters are objecting to recommendations from the city's budget task force to cut funding for their pension plans and other activities.
The task force's suggestions include reducing the city's contributions to the fire and police pension plan, along with cutting money for skills competitions and fire truck cleaning.
"We believe there are other expenditures that could be waived before attacking the police department," said police union spokesman Vinnie Gray.
Gray pointed to a 25-year tennis contract the city signed with Match Point and ATP that costs the city $2 million annually.
"That's my biggest beef," Gray said. "That alone would solve the city's financial problems."
The departments combined represent the biggest chunk of the city's $104 million requested budget, said task force member Todd L'Herrou.
The task force said the city spends nearly 38 percent of its payroll funding the police and fire pension plan. The report said the city contribution to the fund has been steadily rising over the past 10 years. The result: a $40.7 million unfunded liability that must be paid over the next 30 years.
"If this does not change, the city could go bankrupt," said L'Herrou, who is also chairman of the city's Chamber of Commerce. "They are upset and they have right to be. ... But it's also very tight times."
The city agreed to the contribution when both departments had trouble attracting police officers and firefighters. To avoid direct salary increases, the city added benefits such as the higher pension contribution and the take-home car program.
It was also a time when home values were high and the city had more revenue, said task force member Jim Smith.
"We think it is important for the taxpayers to know this," Smith said. "Our mission is to reduce costs without cutting services to residents."
The unions agree one way to cut costs might be to ask Palm Beach County to provide fire and police services.
"We are not saying we want them to get rid of us; but if you can't afford to provide these basic services, then we need to look at being streamlined," said Mike McCleary, vice president of the local firefighters union.
Mayor Rita Ellis said that going to the county for police and fire services is not a viable alternative.
"It's not necessarily cheaper," she said.
Ellis said she understands why the departments feel targeted but said almost every department in the city will be facing cuts. Any change to police and fire benefits would be part of contract negotiations.
"They need to realize this is a different economy," Ellis said. "We're talking about freezing wages for all other workers, and yet they want to be exempt from this? I'm open to listening to anything they have, but it's not going to be business as usual."
Fire Department employees have already formed a 16-member committee to look at its own budget and propose ways to save money. McCleary said they plan to have FPL do an energy survey to find ways to save money.
He defended the need for washing and detailing equipment, saying it could cost as much as $20,000 to repair trucks not regularly maintained. But he said he understands the task force's role is to ultimately save jobs.
"We are not against the city. We're with them in this whole thing," McCleary said. "We just have to float through the hard times."
Source (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpbudgettask0714pnjul14,0,7140347.story)