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Deal could reduce city layoffs
Mayor: Ranked officers deal may lead to buyout program for Youngstown’s patrol officers.
YOUNGSTOWN — City workers expecting layoff notices today instead received a reprieve of about two weeks as the administration works on an early retirement buyout deal with the union that represents its ranking police officers.
“We’ve had some progress that may positively impact our numbers,” said Mayor Jay Williams. “We hope these discussions will allow us to reduce the layoff numbers. We’re having conversations with the brass and we’ll make an offer to the patrol union.”
Officials with the Youngstown Police Ranking Officers, the union that represents the department’s sergeants, detective sergeants, lieutenants and captains, couldn’t be reached Tuesday to comment.
Edward Colon, president of the Youngstown Police Association, which represents patrol officers, said his membership is interested in a buyout program.
The union has asked the city in the past to offer one, he said.
When told by The Vindicator about Williams’ statement that a buyout offer would be made to his union members, Colon said, “That’s wonderful to hear. Hopefully we’ll hear from them.”
Colon and the presidents of unions representing wastewater workers, and secretaries and clerical workers said they were expecting layoff notices today and only learned of the two-week delay from a reporter with The Vindicator.
“We’re glad to get a two-week reprieve,” said Cicero Davis, president of the union representing city secretaries and clerks.
The city’s 2009 general fund budget, approved March 30 by city council, calls for $860,000 in personnel cuts, most of it from the police department.
That could mean up to 34 city workers, including 22 to 26 police officers, losing their jobs.
The police department is to receive the brunt of the cuts because it represents the largest expenditure in the city’s general fund, making up 35.8 percent of the total, city administrator say.
If the buyout proposal is accepted, that number would be reduced, Williams said.
The mayor declined to discuss the details of the buyout proposal, except to say, “There are a number of options that would allow us to achieve the savings we need.”
The city purchased two years of state retirement time for about 55 workers who accepted an early-retirement offer in 2007 and 2008.
A buyout incentive accepted by 20 firefighters in mid-2008 included one year of base salary spread out over five years. Firefighters taking that incentive averaged an annual salary of $58,000.
City Finance Director David Bozanich said he expects layoff notices, if still needed, would be sent to employees in about two weeks.
The city is also closely monitoring its first quarter income tax and profit tax collections as well as other sources of revenue, including the federal stimulus package, to see if it can find additional money to avoid and/or reduce layoffs, Bozanich said.
City administrators will ask the city’s civil service commission today to OK a plan showing a revenue shortfall without layoffs, Bozanich said.
“It’s a required step in the process,” he said.
skolnick@vindy.com