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CLOUDY Temp: 36 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, April 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 18, 2003 Medford plans staffing cuts Financial uncertainties are hurting city budget; spending for police may decrease by $663,000 By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Medford officials plan to trim staff positions for the first time in a decade to reduce the city’s general fund by $1.5 million and balance the budget. "For the first time you will see city staffing go down rather than go up," said Deputy City Manager Jef Faw. City managers approved a preliminary general fund budget on Monday for thetwo-year budget period of July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005. Three uncertainties are causing city officials to come up with worst-case scenarios. The biggest of those is the state Public Employees Retirement System. The PERS board notified Medford in December that the city’s contribution could rise from 12.33 percent of salaries to 19.1 percent in July. Of the retirement system’s projected $15.7 billion shortfall, $25 million is Medford’s responsibility as of December 2001. "We will not know what the real rate is until after the budget is adopted," said Faw, adding that the PERS board meets in June. Also, while the city received a disputed franchise fee from Qwest, the telephone company is challenging the fee and the city is leaving itself a cushion in case an appeals court decides the city must return that money with interest. The city is also awaiting a final decision about whether state money for the 911 emergency system will be awarded to Southern Oregon Regional Communications instead of to the city, which has been receiving it. The general fund is one of 30 city funds and provides most government services such as the police and fire departments and parks and recreation. For fiscal year 2002-03, the city’s total budget is $89 million, of which $47.8 million is the general fund. As proposed, cuts range from $51,291 in the Public Works Department to $663,462 in the Police Department. Faw said the city has added four or five employees every year for at least 10 years to keep up with the demands of a growing population. The city now employs 419 people in 17 departments. City officials plan to leave a couple of positions vacant, including an accounting clerk position and a police secretary position. They also will reduce some of the positions to part-time, such as a neighborhood grants coordinator. Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said his department wants to add a new position to handle an increase in storm water regulations and wants to convert a temporary position into a full-time position. Faw said the total number of city staff would be "down one or two when the dust settles." Faw said residents wouldn’t notice any reduction in service because the staff cuts would be internal "tweaks and adjustments." "We have laid aside $600,000 for further bad news coming out of Salem," he said, adding that the Legislature may cut other taxes or revenues to the city. Faw said the question for the future is how to fund the building of a new police headquarters. "That remains our biggest challenge," he said. Medford’s Budget Committee will have its first meeting April 29. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S