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Salary Options for 2009-2010 Budget

March 20, 2009

 

To: Madame President, Trustees and Manager Neimann

I would like to ask for an option to be placed into our budget as a possible addendum if necessary.

While we have had conversations as to possible layoffs I believe we should explore all possible options before looking at laying off our employees. I would like to see a few scenarios looked at before we get to the point of layoffs.

  1. I would like to see a budget analysis of all salaried employees from supervisor on up taking a 2%, 5% and 10% pay reduction. This would not be a permanent option but I would like to see how the numbers would run.
  2.  I would like to see an analysis of all hourly employees taking 1-3 unpaid days off throughout the course of the year. Again not a yearly permanent option but still would like to see the numbers.

While these are possible contentious options they may be needed in this struggling economy. There is an 8.9% unemployment rate in America. I don’t think any of us want to be the cause of that increasing.

I also believe that none of us wants to see services decline. In traditional layoffs the line employees are the ones who take the brunt of the hit. All departments are already understaffed! We will lose too many services if we layoff our pothole fillers, our service counter helpers, our CSO’s and our inspectors. I personally could not think of laying off line workers who are in the trenches everyday if we haven’t looked at these options.

Finally if we end up laying off a significant amount of “line” workers we cannot look at management without laying off one or two of them as well. Managers only need a job when they have people to supervise. If a department loses employees then we have to look at which supervisor’s responsibilities have been reduced and consider taking them off the payroll as well.

I reiterate I am not for any layoffs, rather creative thinking! I know it adds a little bit more to do but I would ask before we throw our hardworking employees into the street we look at exhausting every possible solution for us, as a Village, to retain our maximum levels of Service.

Let’s all work together to see this budget process through to a successful resolution.

Trustee Tom Cullerton

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