Furloughed safety workers are among 8 Niles recalls

NILES — Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia announced today he will recall eight furloughed city employees June 26, including five members of the safety forces.

Three police officers and three firefighters had been laid-off since last February, but one was recalled last month.

In addition, the mayor is recalling a police secretary, a safety-service building custodian and a part-time building inspector.

“Our income-tax collections are up, and we’ll start collecting from the income-tax increase, so I was able to call them back,” Scarnecchia said.

Last March, voters approved a half-percent income-tax increase that is projected to generate $575,000 this year and $2 million by 2017 to be allocated solely to the safety forces.

“Without that vote, we’d be nowhere,” said city Auditor Giovanne Merlo.

According to the auditor, two other factors have enabled the city to recall employees sooner than expected.

“One is that the state changed tax collections from quarterly to monthly, which is why we have higher revenue this year, and the other is our health care savings,” Merlo said.

The city’s health care insurance broker reported earlier this month that health care changes have resulted in savings of more than $2 million.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com