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For a second year, University City cuts jobs to balance budget
(by Heather Wadsworth - June 11, 2008)
University City residents voiced their suggestions for how the city should spend and save its money at a public hearing held June 2.
Public hearings were conducted during the city council meeting to discuss the 2008-09 budget as well allocation of funds from a $103,000 community-development block grant.
The $40 million budget proposed staff cuts for the second year in a row, including the layoff of seven employees and five current vacancies being left unfilled. These positions include police and victim services, fire services, park maintenance, facilities maintenance, public-relations positions and some administrative positions.
The staff cuts will save $660,000 a year.
Many of these layoffs have already occurred or are in the process of occurring, said Janet Watson, deputy city manager.
Resident Nova Felton said that the fire chief should be required to live in the city limits of University City. She said that the fire chief is currently living in St. Charles County and uses a city vehicle to commute.Felton also suggested that people who use city vehicles turn them off while parked rather than idling.
Elsie Glickert, a former council member, asked for a summary of personnel salaries to be included in the budget, with details for specific departments.
Another former council member, Stefany Brot, gave many suggestions for saving money and creating additional revenue, including better enforcement of crosswalk laws, with fines given out from $50 to $100.She also suggested further advertisement of the financial benefits of citizens participating in the single-stream recycling program, a decrease in the council’s travel budget and a decrease in the money available for professional development for council members.
Anne Marie Kiddon told the council that she believes the city could earn much more revenue if welcome packets were given out to new residents more consistently.
Kiddon said she has three new neighbors who did not receive any kind of welcome packet, which typically includes a free pass to the pool and Ruth Park golf course.
“This is one key opportunity to get people involved,” Kiddon said. “The more involved citizens we have, the more stable our city is, and the more income we have.”
Watson said she would look into why these packets had not been going out and mentioned that the city was revamping its public-relations plan.
Richard Dockett suggested the cutbacks had not gone deep enough. He said the council should take a close look at management positions and consider whether there is a need for both a deputy city manager and an assistant city manager.
The budget will be finalized and voted on at the June 23 meeting. The new financial year begins July 1.
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