City council negotiates with unions to avoid layoffs

By David Skolnick

The firefighters union is ‘setting the example,’ the mayor says.

YOUNGSTOWN — A deal with city firefighters that includes a buyout offer could avoid layoffs in that department, if fully implemented, city administrative officials say.

The city is projecting a deficit in its general fund of more than $3 million by Dec. 31, and about $6 million by Dec. 31, 2009, if cuts aren’t made.

The fire department needed to cut its budget by $750,000 to avoid layoffs there. The city had projected about a dozen firefighters’ losing their jobs if that amount wasn’t eliminated from the department’s budget.

Mayor Jay Williams and Finance Director David Bozanich said Wednesday that the firefighters union is very receptive to making those cuts through a buyout program and other reductions to save jobs in that department. The two declined to give specifics of the negotiations between the firefighters union and the city administration.

“We believe we can avoid layoffs in the fire department contingent on the union approving this plan,” Bozanich said.

Bozanich and Williams said discussions with other unions are progressing, but not nearly as well as those with firefighters.

“The firefighters are setting the example others will hopefully follow,” Williams said.

City administrators say about 60 jobs need to be eliminated — or the financial equivalent, $3.9 million in salary and benefits — to balance the budget. The greater the savings through other means, the fewer layoffs would occur, they say.

“The other departments are subject to layoffs if the savings isn’t reached,” Williams said. “Layoffs are a last resort.”

The city had originally given its eight unions until May 1 to come up with proposals. Administrators specifically mentioned potential givebacks in salary and benefits.

That May 1 date was extended for a few more weeks to allow the unions to propose other reductions to save jobs.

The city administration wanted to have the cuts in place by July 1. Because of progress being made with the unions, that deadline is now Aug. 1, Williams said.

The city is also working on increasing its revenue through the sale of assets, land and easements. The city’s general fund budget includes $2.34 million for these one-shot sales.

On Wednesday, council authorized the finance department to seek proposals to sell five cellular telephone towers. Bozanich estimates the city could receive about $1 million for the towers.

Council approved legislation earlier this month to have the board of control sell a former industrial site off Division Street for about $665,000.

The city has other assets to be sold in the coming months, Bozanich said. He and Williams are optimistic the city can exceed the $2.34 million budget amount for these sales.

Also Wednesday, council agreed to provide $38,000 to assist events and activities on and near Federal Street that bring people to the downtown area. That is less than half of that fund’s 2007 budget.

skolnick@vindy.com