City Budget Would Cut 45 Full-Time Jobs

The city’s preliminary 1996-97 budget recommends eliminating 45 full-time positions to offset a $4-million budget shortfall, but only 13 of those cuts would involve layoffs, officials said Tuesday.

City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga on Tuesday released his recommendations to balance the proposed $98-million operating budget.

The plan calls for $2 million in spending cuts, primarily by reducing personnel costs, and raising $2 million in new revenue.

Of the 45 positions to be cut, most would be by attrition, he said. A Police Department accident investigator and helicopter pilot would be transferred to positions now vacant, he said, and their old jobs eliminated. Two other non-sworn positions would also go.

All workers facing layoffs could apply for vacant city jobs for which they qualify, he said.

New revenue proposals include a sewer maintenance fee that would raise $1 million, an increase in business license fees to bring in an extra $320,000 and a higher library and cultural development fee to generate $100,000.

The council has set a budget workshop for 7 p.m. Monday in City Council chambers, 2000 Main St. Officials said they expect to adopt the new budget Sept. 16.