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Workers plead for no layoffs in budget

Under a budget scenario to further lower the millage rate, some city departments would lose jobs. More budget talks are set for September.

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published August 9, 2006

PORT RICHEY - With the possibility of unemployment looming over their heads, about 15 city workers showed up at a budget hearing Tuesday evening as the City Council debated a lower millage rate that would result in 10 layoffs.

The cuts would occur if the council approves a 10 percent cut in each of the city's departments in an attempt to lower the millage rate. The cuts would include two police officers, a firefighter, a dispatcher, two city clerks, a part-time evidence clerk, two crew members and an executive assistant, according to a proposed budget drafted last week by City Manager Jerry Calhoun.

While the City Council has yet to vote on the issue, Stephen Sarnoff, president of the city workers union, Communication Workers of America, spoke Tuesday on behalf of city workers fearing the worst.

"I never thought I'd be standing here discussing these issues at all," Sarnoff said. "These people don't need to be sitting here tonight worrying about the future."

Until the July 18 budget workshop, the city's $12.4-million preliminary budget assumed the city's millage rate would decrease from 5.82 to 4.7 mills without any layoffs. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable property.

Mayor Mark Abbott wanted the millage rate lowered more to 4.32 mills. So council members told Calhoun to cut 10 percent from each city department's budget, cuts that would force layoffs, Calhoun said. At the July 25 meeting, the council set the tentative millage rate at 4.7 mills, which means the final tax rate can't exceed that number.

During the budget workshop, Calhoun again warned the council of what could occur if the city's departments are cut.

"When I talked to council, I said the only way (to cut 10 percent) is layoffs," Calhoun said. "You can't cut that much out. It won't work. I know this budget."

Final budget hearings are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and 21.

The budget workshop spilled into an executive session to discuss Jeffrey Kay, a former Port Richey police officer. Reversing a previous decision, the council voted Tuesday night to rehire Kay.

Kay had sued the city after an arbitrator said he was wrongly fired. The police officers union, the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, wanted a circuit judge to enforce an arbitrator's May 12 ruling that Kay should get his old job back.

But initially the city didn't want him back: The council voted June 13 to appeal the arbitrator's ruling.

The decision Tuesday night to rehire Kay brings the number of Port Richey police officers to 14.

In other business, the City Council planned to discuss the number of units a developer can build at the Snug Cove condominium development on Bay Boulevard. The property was approved for 141 units in 1986 but was never built. This year the council approved a preliminary site plan with a maximum of 85 units.

Whether developer Doug Markham can build 85 or 141 units has been a hot-button issue the past few months for an eager developer, city leaders and opponents in the neighborhood.

[Last modified August 8, 2006, 22:59:28]