City Issues 19 Layoff Notices, Manager Says Core Services at Risk
Six Police, Five Firefighters Among Pink Slipped City Workers
May 23, 2010
By: Dave Rogers
"The issuance of lay off notifications is not ideal nor was it easy," said City Manager Belleman.
The City of Bay City has issued 19 lay off notices to 'non essential' General Fund employees, according to City Manager Robert V. Belleman.
Besides the budget axe, the manager delivered a message spelling a gloomy future.
He added: "Moreover, the City of Bay City is not in the financial position to continue to support the wage and benefit levels currently in place.
"With declining population, property tax revenues and state support, the City of Bay City, unless these steps are taken, will be unable to provide our core services long term.
"Both short and long term financial requirements are far exceeding our current revenue stream."
The notification of lay offs included the following positions:
Teamsters Local 214 Non-Supervisory
Assistant to the Director of Fiscal Services
Administrative Assistant - Engineering
Teamsters Local 214 Supervisory
Engineering Manager
U.W.U.A. Local 541
Construction Engineering Supervisor/Worker
U.W.U.A. Local 542
Senior Account Clerk -- Purchasing
Contract/Accounts Payable Clerk -- Purchasing
Parks Maintenance Person II
Clerk Typist -- Police
F.O.P. Lodge 103
Police Officer (5)
C.O.A.M. -- Police Command
Sergeant (1)
I.A.F.F. Local 116
Firefighter/EMT (5)
Mr. Belleman explained: "These positions represent a pro rata share of the 10.8 percent reduction in labor costs required in order to balance the General Fund FY 2011 budget.
He continued in his memo to commissioners: "As discussed during the Budget Work Sessions, the General Fund is faced with a $1.7 million deficit of which you are intending to use approximately $500,000 in General Fund fund balance with the remaining approximate $1.2 million being covered through labor cost reductions or lay off of 19 positions within the fund."
Mr. Belleman said the City has been negotiating with various unions and will continue to do so in an attempt to resolve the deficit through labor cost reductions as opposed to position eliminations through lay offs.
"The City of Bay City, especially in General Fund, is at the level of staffing required to provide the quality of services our residents and taxpayers have become accustomed.
"The issuance of lay off notifications is not ideal nor was it easy. The notifications of lay off were in no way indicative of performance.
"The lay off notices included positions that are not 'essential' to meeting our legal requirements under federal, state and local laws and the City Charter.
I truly hope, the City of Bay City and its eight collective bargaining units are successful in resolving our financial challenges through negotiations and NOT position eliminations.
"Finally, there will be another round of lay off notices issued. This first round pertained only to General fund employees. The second round will impact employees in other funds such as utilities and internal service funds.
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