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Waiting for the bad news

Officials prepare to trim Largo's budget depending on what the Legislature decides.

By KAMEEL STANLEY
Published June 3, 2007

LARGO - Like their counterparts in many local governments, Largo officials can only guess what might happen during this month's special legislative session in Tallahassee.

But no matter what state legislators do, city officials are preparing for the worst. Last week, they unveiled dozens of potential cuts that could save up to $6-million.

Things headed to the chopping block could include school resource officers, Sunday library hours and the equivalent of about 81 full-time positions.

"This is the first time we've had to do something this drastic, " said Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert. "When you make these kind of cuts, you're obviously dealing with employees."

About half of the positions on the hit list are vacant, but others are occupied by part-time employees. Two half-time employees, for example, equal one full-time position.

The total "body count" - the actual number of Largo's 1, 000 full- and part-time employees who face job cuts - is unclear.

The cuts have been identified in the city's general fund, which is supported by property tax revenues. The city's total annual budget is $130-million, and its planned general fund budget for 2008 is $62-million, Schubert said. The $6-million works out to be about a 10 percent reduction.

The plan, which Schubert presented to city commissioners last week, is a rough draft meant to give officials a heads-up and allow them to explore worst-case scenarios.

"We've chosen a response hopefully in the middle of where the Legislature is going to go, " said acting City Manager Norton "Mac" Craig. "We're cutting services and the people are going to holler."

Many departments plan to reduce their budgets by cutting costs on office supplies, travel and training, and not filling vacant positions.

Deputy Police Chief John Carroll said his department would avoid layoffs and still eliminate the equivalent of eight full-time positions by reassigning officers and keeping some positions vacant.

The department's four school resource officers, for example, would return to patrol duties.

"I feel, by comparison, very fortunate, " Carroll said.

The hardest hit by the plan is library services and recreation, parks and arts. Combined, those departments would contribute nearly a third of the total positions lost and nearly $2.6-million in savings.

Operations could be reduced by as much as 25 hours per week at the Southwest and Highland recreation centers, eliminating the equivalent of four full-time positions and saving $153, 000.

The city's nature parks, and art and outreach programs also could be deleted to save the equivalent of seven full-time positions and nearly $420, 000.

At the library, officials are looking at everything from hiring freezes to reducing programs to closing doors on Sundays.

"It could be described as deflating ... to have to scale back to basic and core services, " said Library Director Casey McPhee. "Morale is a little bit low at this point."

Just two years ago, the library moved into a new, $21-million, 90, 000-square-foot building with state-of-the art amenities, including a cafe, art gallery and more meeting space.

About 500, 000 people use the library each year, McPhee said, and any reduction will be difficult.

But things can still change by July 1 - the date an official budget will be proposed - Schubert said.

Commissioners had mixed reactions last week.

"We're all praying that we don't have to go here, " said Mayor Pat Gerard.

Gerard said she had great respect for the city's department heads, who had to come up with the list of possible cuts.

Besides the cuts, officials also came up with possible ways to raise another $260, 000 in revenue.

Many fees and fines could see a hike, with the bulk again coming from library and recreation, parks and arts.

Daily library fines, for example, could be increased by 5 cents, bringing in $25, 000. Another $140, 000 could be raised by increasing recreation membership fees by $10.

Whatever fixes the city comes up with during the next couple of months might be a temporary solution to a growing problem.

The city may be put in a situation similar to this in the future, Schubert warned commissioners.

"We may be doing one set of reductions ... and then have to do another round in 2009 and 2010, " he said.

Anticipating large revenue reductions from the state, Largo city officials have come up with $6-million in potential cuts for next year's general fund budget. Here are some of the items on the list, including what would go first and what would happen in a worst-case scenario.

Administration

Potential savings: $209, 100.

What goes first: Reduce legislative travel.

Worst-case scenario: Don't fund assistant city manager/support staff.

Community Development

Potential savings: $487, 100.

What goes first: Delete business assistance funding.

Worst-case scenario: Eliminate code officer.

General Operation

Potential savings: $59, 100.

What goes first: Machine maintenance.

Worst-case scenario: Eliminate power service to site of old library.

Human Resources

Potential savings: $92, 500.

What goes first: Reduce travel/training.

Worst-case scenario: Eliminate new hire specialist.

Fire/Rescue

Potential savings: $617, 200.

What goes first: Freeze management analyst position and split the cost of an analyst position with public works.

Worst-case scenario: Reduce EMS service.

Police

Potential savings: $515, 000.

What goes first: Office supplies.

Worst-case scenario: Don't fill vacant positions, eliminate school resource officers.

Public Works

Potential savings: $544, 200.

What goes first: Reduce street maintenance.

Worst-case scenario: Reduce sidewalk/streetlight budgets by 50 percent.

Library

Potential savings: $842, 200.

What goes first: Freeze hiring.

Worst-case scenario: Close library on Sundays.

Management Services

Savings: $469, 500.

What goes first: Reduce training/travel.

Worst-case scenario: Cut staff by two full-time positions.

Recreation, Parks and Arts

Potential savings: $1, 747, 300.

What goes first: Community Center art program.

Worst-case scenario: Reduce maintenance, operating hours.

Source: City of Largo

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 19:04:43]