Layoffs at City Hall?
On Wednesday, City Manager Mitchell Johnson sent a memo to employees detailing how he intends to reduce the size of the staff by 49 positions, as he was ordered to do by the council.
Johnson says in the memo he has asked department directors to find "identify 2 percent of their workforce that they would recommend to cut from their budget that would have the least impact on work plans.
"Each department must identify at least one position to be deleted," Johnson wrote. "Clearly, some of these positions may be vacant but others may not."
Laid-off workers would be "notified at the appropriate time and would be subject to the Reduction in Force policy of the city," he noted.
Johnson says the cuts have to be in place by June 30.
Comments (3)
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Layoffs are not the best solution to reduce government expenditures. It merely is a patch-job.
Reducing government through efficiency and technology is the goal of budgeting for outcomes.
Check it out here.
Posted on January 12, 2008 6:16 PM
I agree Jeffrey. This was not very well thought out by the Council. I am not sure if they can rescind a vote but that would be a good idea. They should take the time to review their goals and outcomes versus arbitrarily ordering the manager to cut 49 positions.
Posted on January 13, 2008 10:08 PM
This shotgun approach is causing a lot of problems. Maybe it should be called the VT method, stick your head in the door and shoot someone. This is going to cost a lot more than actually thinking the problem through. There are good people looking for more secure jobs elsewhere. And, if they leave they will not be replaced. Well, they will not be replaced with an employee they will be replaced with an expensive consultant.
There are so many ways they could stop wasting money I can't begin to list them here. Two of the worst ways is is by random firings or hiring freezes. Especially directed by a City Manager that just received the maximum raise and told his department heads not to give the maximum to anyone. He should of had his salary capped instead of a raise. What an example he is!
Posted on January 15, 2008 12:04 PM