COLUMBIANA COUNTY Salem council to discuss finances, possible layoffs

Officials have been looking at ways for the city to cut costs.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
SALEM -- The city's financial woes, and possible employee layoffs, will be the primary topic of discussion at a special meeting of city council Monday.
"It's finally crunched us," said Mayor Larry DeJane. "It's finally hit Salem."
The meeting notice issued by DeJane said Monday's meeting is called to discuss personnel. The mayor said that's because possible layoffs will be on the table.
"It's just one of the things council is considering," DeJane said. "They haven't made any decisions. They're just trying to figure out what they're going to do."
Councilwoman Nancy Cope, R-at large, said Monday will be the first time council has talked about the possibility of laying off workers.
"It's just one of a few things we're looking at," said Cope, chairwoman of council's finance committee. She would not say what other options are being considered.
Sue Laughlin of the city auditor's office said the city has about 90 full-time and 25 part-time employees.
Looking at options
DeJane said council has spent considerable time over the past five to six weeks looking into cost-cutting measures to help get the city through the year.
Other options council has discussed are increasing the city's income tax, or placing a special levy on the ballot for fire services, DeJane said.
When council passed the city's $4.9 million budget for 2004 in March, officials said the budget situation would be tight through the rest of the year.
DeJane said the problem is largely because of a stagnant revenue stream, exacerbated by the closing last month of the Eljer Plumbingware Co. plant on South Ellsworth Avenue. Officials said loss of those 250 jobs will cost the city about $60,000 a year in revenue.
"Those kinds of things have hurt us," DeJane said. "We don't have any money for anything any more."
Cope said the city's income so far is about $15,000 less than it was at the same time last year.
"I was really hoping the income would rebound by now, but it hasn't," Cope said. "These shop closings aren't helping us any."
bjackson@vindy.com