By Political Reporter Marshall Zelinger
m.zelinger@krdo.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mzelinger
COLORADO SPRINGS - Despite you voting down issue 2C on election night, no police officers or firefighters will be fired in 2010. 23 police and 22 firefighters were supposed to be laid off unless 2C passed. Instead, city council balanced the 2010 budget by making cuts elsewhere. To see a log of how the cuts took place in real time, see the history on Political Reporter Marshall Zelinger's twitter account, www.twitter.com/mzelinger.
City council plans to save $1.4 million in 2010 by requiring city employees to take 10 unpaid days off. Sworn-employees (police, fire, EMT and dispatchers) will not be required to take furlough days.
"It is something that I would say is unfortunate that when you do furloughs it doesn't’T impact every employee equally," said Mayor Lionel Rivera.
During the six-hour budget meeting, the council was divided between furloughs, potential pay cuts and layoffs. To add or subtract form the budget, five council members needed to agree.
"If the message that comes out of here is that we're not even going to consider furloughs, we're going to shut everything down, the message is going to be loud and clear that we're punishing the community because they didn't pass 2C," said Colorado Springs City Councilman Darryl Glenn. Glenn had recommended 26 days of furloughs, to save more than $4.5 million.
"A city employee is not entitled to a better standard of living than the public they serve," said Councilman Tom Gallagher, who supported across the board pay cuts to mirror what some private businesses have done.
"As difficult as it is, I think layoffs help us to achieve our goal much quicker and much cleaner than prolonging the pain through pay cuts," said Councilwoman Jan Martin. "I also would support considering up to about two weeks of furlough."
"We can't get there without doing something with furloughs," said Glenn.
"Furloughs will not treat them all the same," said Vice Mayor Larry Small.
"We can lay off people and visit the reduction on a few people or we can spread it out on most or all of the work force," said Councilman Randy Purvis. "My gut, my preference would be to spread it out over the entire work force."
Councilman Sean Paige suggested a 3% across the board pay cut on top of furloughs.
The budget meeting began with a $3,040,000 shortfall. After council saved the police and fire jobs, the budget deficit reached nearly $8,000,000. Council decided to save $1.2 million by turning off roughly one out of every four streetlights. Which lights will go off would be determined with a safety analysis.
In 2010, bus service will end at 6:45 p.m. during the week, with no bus service on weekends. City parks won't get any money for water or maintenance. Rock Ledge Ranch and Starsmore Discovery Center will get three months worth of funding, with the hope that donors will step forward to keep the centers open through the year. Community centers will also get three months worth of funding. If any community center wants to stay open beyond March, donations will be needed.
$800,000 was saved when the council approved early retirements for six police officers and four firefighters. Police Chief Richard Myers got $2.3 million to prevent layoffs. Myers gave back $500,000 which would have gone to fill three vacancies. The city will contribute 1/8 less to pay stormwater fees. When 300 passed on election night, it started the phase out of stormwater fees over eight years. The 1/8 less payment equals $33,750. Council also eliminated $35,000 funding for the Office of International Affairs, $5,000 for Prebles mouse and migratory bird and $10,000 for dangerous building inspections.
