Brothers
 
I thought you might be interested in this story from Florida Today. You may have seen the story in the paper but the story did not indicate all the issues that were on the table. Some are still being looked at for cost savings and impact. One of the proposed reductions in expenditures was to eliminate the 50% contribution towards the retirees health insurance. That was not supported in this round of cost cutting but it may and probably will return if revenue is reduced further.
 
I am sure several of our FD personnel and retired brothers voted for Amendment 1 believing Charlie Crist's statements that local government has the money. Charlie believes they (local government) received excessive increases over the last six or seven years. Charlie said no employee in Florida will loose their job. Well Cities, Counties and Special Districts are cutting jobs. Many are deleting through attrition and cutting reoccurring costs the hold off loosing people but they are still loosing positions.
 
Melbourne has frozen all hiring for 60 or 90 days and then all requests to fill vacancies are subject to a review although, that is not enough to bring the budget in line. The current proposal being considered is to offer lump sum payments instead of increasing base pay and reduce other benefits. The City is also looking at reducing the number of holidays and reducing the employers cost for insurance and pensions.
 
The City of Melbourne has several seats up for election likewise the County has several. Going into this next round of elections and budget talks our voice will need to be united and strong. The insurance proposal before the City Council would have cost the retirees $236.90 per month the major cause of the revenue problem is the reduction that Charlie pushed. This promised an average savings of $240 per year. I have yet to find anyone in our area that is getting a $240 per year savings.
 
Had the City proposal passed and if you are one of the lucky residents that was getting the $240 savings the final result would have been no savings but an increase of $216.90 per month. The members that moved out of state did not receive any tax reduction but would have had the cost shifted to them anyway. We will need to be very active in the next round of local elections and could use your help.
 
I just wanted to let you know what was being considered in light of further tax reductions planned for the Legislative Session that is starting this Tuesday. You can view the article at http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080229/NEWS01/802290359/1006/&source=nletter-news
 
Fraternally
 
Jim Tolley

Melbourne avoids layoffs in 1st round of budget cuts

$3.1M in savings wins initial OK

Melbourne budget memo - Adobe PDF

BY RICK NEALE
FLORIDA TODAY

MELBOURNE - Reduce the municipal workforce. Consolidate emergency-dispatch centers with Brevard County. And redeploy firefighters from the airport fire station.

Facing gloomy budgetary prospects, these cost-cutting ideas remain under consideration by the Melbourne City Council. Thursday night, council members met in special session to prepare for the looming 2008-09 budget -- which will require millions of dollars of fiscal belt-tightening.

Last month, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, a package of property tax cuts. The referendum could lop $3.5 million to $5.5 million from Melbourne's $69 million general fund, which finances police, fire, parks, administration and other services.

On top of that, the slumping economy and real estate market are further eroding Melbourne's finances. Deputy City Manager Amy Elliott estimated this year's budget will fall $852,770 short of initial projections -- and this decline could reach $1.86 million.

"It's not a budget shortfall in Melbourne. It's a shortfall in every town in Florida and 49 out of the 50 states." Mayor Harry Goode said.

Council members gave preliminary approval to $3.1 million in cuts that can be adopted "relatively easily," Elliott said. These range from replacement of aging vehicles to slashing 10 to 15 positions via attrition.

Also included: elimination of Christmas gift cards for employees and -- perhaps -- annual donations to charitable organizations.

Moreover, the city has:

  • Initiated a soft hiring freeze, featuring 60-day waiting periods for most vacant positions.
  • Eliminated nearly all of out-of-state travel.
  • Placed $1.7 million in capital expenditures in limbo.

    City Council will scrutinize an array of additional cutbacks in the coming months.

    A second list of less-palatable options includes: transferring personnel and equipment out of Fire Station 73 on Tower Access Road; early retirement packages; and various pension, salary and health insurance changes. Consolidating the dispatch services, another option, would bring savings of $100,000 per year. Elliott said pains were taken to avoid layoffs.

    City Manager Jack SchluckeBier, one of Brevard County's most vocal Amendment 1 opponents, said an engineer, planner and budget analyst will not be replaced once those positions are vacated.

    After discussion, council members decided not to cancel construction of the $5.7 million downtown parking garage next to City Hall.

    An early casualty of the budget crunch was the popular Melbourne Auditorium, which is used by about 320,000 people per year. Earlier this month, council members imposed an 18-month delay on a feasibility study for rebuilding or remodeling the outdated facility.

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