The City Manager will release the list of proposed cuts to balance the city budget today (March 29). These cuts are based on no concessions from any of the labor unions nor savings gained through outsourcing of janitorial services (among others) to save money.
Money saved from outsourcing could help pay for library hours or the aquatics program, for example. The question of concessions has been out there for months and could be included in the budget. Agreement would need to be reached in early April since layoff notices would start going out April 19. If concessions are made then some of these cuts could be avoided but in lieu of an agreement in hand here are some of the proposed/likely cuts.
As it stands now, 802 positions would be eliminated, of which 656 are filled positions, which closes the deficit of $118.2 million. In addition, there were services that were funded last year with one-time funds ($7,476,000), such as library hours, community centers and the SJPD horse-mounted unit, which will be going away as well, accounting for 77 filled positions.
Library:
Eliminate 104 positions to save $7.4 million in 2010-2011 and $7.9 million in 2011-2012. Neighborhood branch libraries would be open three days a week and the MLK Main library would reduce hours 12 percent. Delay opening of new Seven Trees and new Bascom libraries saves $2.3 million for library staffing. Does not include community center staffing costs.
Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services:
Eliminate 38 positions to save $4.3 million in 2010-2011 and $5 million in 2011-2012. Close smaller community centers.
Eliminate 12 positions, saving $836,000 in 2010-2011 and $854,000 in 2011-2012. Reduce maintenance staffing at parks; restrooms open only on weekends except in summer. Eliminate 10 park rangers, saving $634,000 in 2010-2011 and $848,000 in 2011-2012. Eliminate 24 positions, saving $630,000 in 2010-2011 and $637,000 in 2011-2012. Reduces aquatic program to only 2 pools in San Jose. Eliminate two positions in Code Enforcement, saving $302,000 in 2010-2011 and $323,000 in in 2011-2012.
Fire:
Eliminate 90 positions (88 are filled), saving $12 million in 2010-2011. 2011-2012 costs determined through binding arbitration. Reduce/suspend fire apparatus and fire fighters at station 30 Auzerais, Station 33 Communications Hill, Station 34 Las Plumas, Station 35 Poughkeepsie, Station 3 Martha Street and one other station yet to be identified.
Police:
Eliminate 160 positions (153 are filled), saving $25.5 in 2010-2011. 2011-2012 costs determined through binding arbitration. Reduce police patrols; eliminate funding for new officers; reduce Metro Unit; reduce Investigations unit; reduce Downtown services unit; delay opening of Police Substation; reduce Financial Crimes unit. Reduce the Crossing Guard program by 8.3 positions to save $354,000 in 2010-2011
Transportation:
Eliminate 12 positions for capital projects, including transit and bike/pedestrian projects. Saves $1.4 million in 2010-2011 and $1.6 million in 2011-2012. Eliminate 9 positions for Neighborhood Traffic Calming. No more traffic studies and no implementation of traffic calming tools. Saves $921,000 in 2010-2011 and $999,000 in 2011-2012. Eliminate five positions for residential street sealing. Saves $375,000 in 2010-2011 and $415,000 in 2011-2012.
Convention Center:
Eliminate 25 positions to save $1.9 million 2010-2011 and $2 million in 2011-2012.
This list is not comprehensive and may/will fluctuate based on final Council adoption of the budget in June.
Nothing in there about cutting city executive staff or cutting council member’s bloated staffs. Also, make serving on the city council a part time position with no benefits, as in other cities. A 10% layoff is pretty typical of what most big companies have done during this recession. It won’t be the end of San Jose.
voters are paying for police and fire forever. we don’t pay for council after 8 years of service. Next years pension payout for police will be equal to the entire PD budget.
PO
1) Where on city web site is list of current filled department city positions both full and part time?
Every time we see city employee numbers they don’t match up or something is hidden or not disclosed
2) Do you feel Council and taxpayers know and we can see where our taxes are really being spent?
3) Why does Council keep spending taxes on non basic city services since it means San Jose cuts basic city services? Majority Taxpayers would vote No if asked, on spending taxes on golf courses, Hayes, Mexican Heritage, theater buildings, sports, entertainment and corporations
Amen, especially #3. Millions are spent on frivolous stuff, and we’re going to start by cutting basic services? Our representatives are a joke.
You should be laughed out of the room if you start a budget cut/discussion with the services that you’re actually supposed to provide, knowing full well that you continue to fund art projects, plays, golf, entertainment, etc.
No doubt we have to address the structural problems in the basic services, but the rest of this crap should be cut immediately.
Council spent a lot of $$$ on a consultant to survey where to cut, and you, P.O., sent out an email survey. What a waste on both counts, since the council is unlikely to adopt what WE THE PEOPLE want; but will cut where labor lobbyists say to cut.
Why is The Office of Cultural Affairs not cut IN ITS ENTIRETY?
Using your numbers, the average person cut from library staff makes $71,153.85; the avergae of the 38 persons cut from Parks & Wreck makes $113,157.84. How can a librarian make only 62% of what a gardener makes? But your numbers show if we cut only 12 positions from parks & wreck, the average salary is $69,666.67.
Fire dept. cuts average out to $133,333.33 per person , and police cuts of 153 filled positions averages out to $166,666.66 per person.
Transportation workers cut averages $116,666.60. We’re paying drivers $166k+??
ConVis workers only make $76k on avergae. The poor kids on the block.
The unions refuse to negotiate. Screw them—wield the axe. Make a choice—piss off the unions or piss off the voters.
Amen to that!
How the hell benefits from the Office of Cultural Affairs?
Disclosure is the last thing the city bureaucracy wants; finding material for justification is getting harder to come by.
Maybe its because they are not putting in a “good-faith” effort.
But they can find time to debate a ban on bags
I hope that there is still room for city support of the Mexican Heritage center and cinco de mayo celebrations.
The list of identified cuts could be renamed, “Why I Have No Interest or Allegiance to the City of San Jose.”
Damned near all the job cuts are to core services. Nowhere do I see anything about cutting that bloated bureacracy that provides non-core services by doing little more than collecting a paycheck.
I guess the Dept. of Cultural Affairs is more important the police or fire… duhhhhh! As for me, I’m through giving a sh*t what the City does.
How many managers and senior executives does San Jose have vs workers providing city services?
Cut 1 high paid execs or manager and save 3-4 workers who provide city services
Noooooo says city, we can’t cut high paid execs and managers who spend their time attending Council, committee and staff meetings or meetings would be empty
Pierluigi,
I am deeply concerned about these cuts. Public safety MUST be the City’s number one priority. I don’t want to live in a city where crime is ignored; innocent citizens are murdered, robbed, raped, and left to fend for themselves. This is completely unacceptable to me. Anyone on the Council who votes to reduce Police and Fire will lose my support.
Not to worry Kathleen, the only cops to be cut are the ones that hang out at Starbucks. So Starbucks will be really dangerous. But the city won’t suffer!
But Starbucks is okay with patrons bringing in their guns. It does not take that long to insert a clip into an unloaded weapon. Especially when wired on caffine.
Wyatt Earp,
Your commentary is not only ignorant but, •A stereotype is a commonly held public belief about specific social groups, or types of individuals. The concepts of “stereotype” and “prejudice …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype
Andy Taylor,
Your commentray is:
•An overly simplified judgment or bias regarding a person or group.
http://www.ifpa.ie/Media-Info-Centre/Sexual-Health-Glossary
I strongly advocate that many City programs that are also on the chopping block are proactive forms of public safety: Parks, community centers, pools and our libraries are safe places where kids can go and hang out, learning takes place and families can bond. Having these programs add to our quality of life which in addition to retaining taxpaying residents also attracts new, future businesses and residents. The police mounted unit offers a way for kids to develop positive relationships with the police, as well as offer a way for police to respond to calls that may not be easily accessible via patrol car. The Neighborhood Watch program helps residents and police work collaboratively together.
So, between the protection that police/fire public safety offers and the proactice public safety programs and knowing many of these are going away, I hope that Council will encourage ALL bargaining units (unions) to concede the requested wage concessionos as a way to save neighborhood services and the city jobs that support them.
Tina
Kathleen,
I am also concerned about ALL the cuts. But if people in Police & Fire (who are covered by binding arbitration while others are not) refuse to give back any wages and benefits, none of the other unions are likely to do give-backs. Why? Because anything they give away will just go into the pockets of cops and firefighters.
The POA and Firefighters Union are really in the driver’s seat for what happens with the city budget and layoffs. If they allow give-backs, so will the other 9 city employee’s unions. If not, then Figone’s ugly budget becomes reality.
Note: I am not anti-cop or firefighter, but the bloated benefits these two groups get are waaayyyy out of line with what us poor taxpayers get. This needs to be corrected and the City Council needs to remember who it works for, and it’s not the unions!
Reader,
I guess I have a different perspective on this situation. Comparing the Police and Fire to other jobs doesn’t work for me. Very few professions at City Hall or in the private sector require employees to put their lives on the line, or get injured often. Other professions pay employees quite well for not having a personal life. These Police Officers rarely see their families. Between working overtime because they are short staffed and dealing with conflict on a 24/7 basis, I think these benefits are well worth the service we get. As a matter of fact, I think we UNDER pay Police Officers.
All these programs that are on the chopping block that have to do with public safety affect us ALL. It frightens the crap out of me to think about the number of Officers we will lose to other cities that actually value Police and Fire Fighters. Tina is 100% correct in her assessment of the value of Crime Prevention, Libraries, and Community Centers etc. If you think for one moment your property or your person will be safe once these cuts take place, think again.
I work in an area that deals with victims of crime. Probation Officers are being cut, the DA’s Office is suffering from cuts, cases loads are tripling in all law enforcement agencies, and victims are left to fend for themselves while YOUR tax dollars are paying for the criminals that violate innocent people’s rights. They get free medical care, food, TV, housing etc. That is more than a lot of hard working, law-abiding citizens have right now! But I don’t hear anyone yelling about that.
Based on your position, we should be paying soldiers a lot more than the $47,278 average pay for army people. Some of them are actually shot at.
Jeeper,
Don’t get me started on the horrific way our country treats its vets and military. My Father was a lifer and served in 3 wars. When he came home to people screaming baby killer, injured without proper medical care, and out of work, it made me ashamed of our government and the value they put on military service.
If you really want to scream in frustration, talk to some of these young kids coming home from the war. The things they heard and saw will make you ill. The way they’re treated once they are home is even worse. No jobs, no help for their emotional well being, and many with no place to live. Yeah, they are well UNDER paid, in more ways than one.
Spoken like a true union solider.
I’ll take my chances with the street criminals; it’s the bureaucratic criminals that are taking the money out of my pocket!
Why isn’t the police helicopter being cut? The county has a helicopter we can borrow for the few times a decade a helicopter is actually needed.
I would much rather have officers on ground patrol than in the sky.
Another sleepless night for me. I was wondering is this normal? $1.7ml in uncollectible accounts? Maybe bankruptcies? You think? That sucks. Could have helped out with the crossing guards or library.
3.2 FY 2009-10 First Quarter Revenue Collection Strategic Plan Report.
Recommendation: As recommended by the Public Safety, Finance and Strategic
Support Committee on December 17, 2009:
(a) Accept the FY 2009-10 First Quarter Revenue Collection Strategic Plan Report;
Accepted.
(b) Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to write off 126
uncollectible accounts in an amount totaling $1,702,757.42. (Finance)
[Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee referral 12/17/09 – Item D(3)]
(Deferred from 1/12/10 – Item 3.7, et al., and 2/23/10 – Item 3.2)
Resolution No. 75303 adopted.
Absent: Oliverio
How about if the city council decides to give up the city’s luxury box at the HP Arena, which is mostly used by the council and city executives, and instead rent it out? The proceeds could fund the crossing guards.
I also didn’t see any mention of shutting down or reducing the hours at the city owned golf courses. Could that be better spent on the library or crossing guards?
It is too bad that while the economy was so great around here for so many years, our city funded so many frivolous and ridiculous pet projects. How much did we pay for that sculpture in Cesar Chavez park that looks like a pile of poo? ($500,000) If they had saved that money and invested it, our city would still have surplus money.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:lzB6D1AnogQJ:www.sanjose.com/underbelly/unbelly/Sanjose/Quetzy/quetzy.html+cesar+chavez+park+san+jose+quetzal&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Interesting choices by the City Manager. Are we back to an independent City Manager or is it still a political position as it was under Gonzales? If its a strong and independent position that’s designed to balance competing political interests (council/mayor) against the long term health and welfare of the city as a whole, then I would consider these cuts telling.
The City of San Jose is a business and it has declared that library services is not central to its core mission, while all the rest that didn’t get touched is. The mission, however, is to provide public goods and services to support the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of its residents (contributing to quality of life (individually, social and economic.)
The Library system is a core service. In a democracy, drinking water, public schools and public libraries are the most important to preserve (and the first abandoned during the decline and fall.)
Rather than rant today, let me just suggest that every single at-will employee be entered into a lotto, and do a drawing for keeping your job. I think 1 in 5 released would be good to share the pain. The only exception should be those in the city charter (City Manager, City Auditor).
In the case of political units like council staff, give each council member the option of deciding how to cut 20% of their staff budget. Also, have the city council salaries (with the raises that some accepted and some refused) rolled back 20%. Tie this to the unions position, being either temporary roll-backs like the union concessions, or permanent.
Suspend Cost of Living adjustments to pension recipients and index future increases to national inflation rate.
I actually don’t like the idea of current employers retiring out with excellent benefits while newcomers who will have to take over and clean up this mess in future years will have to enter with diluted benefits and have to work alongside these gold plated workers doing most of the line work while the more highly compensated workers supervise and advise while they count their retirement nest egg. I’d rather see cuts now, across the board, with everyone sharing the pain, and then rebuild the organization with a solid foundation for the future.
Couldn’t we do an inverted pyramid system where the people actually doing the work are the last to be cut, and those writing the reports, sending emails about the progress and making power points on the accomplishments are the first?
Also, can we consider some new business models that might offer new efficiencies? Does a library need three to seven reference librarians to open for people to browse the collection and check out books? Could reference service be centralized, or set up in a hub and spoke system where in depth help is available at the main library and four branches (North, South, East and West) and the rest open with a skeleton circulation staff that just handles materials (checking in/out and shelving).
Let’s talk swimming pools, could we bid out the operation and establish an enterprise fund for an adopt a pool program (like the adopt a highway) where funds for contracted operations could be donated by companies, individuals, neighborhood associations, etc? Better yet, could we make it a big initiative “healthy San Jose” where we seek enough funding to establish a public trust endowment to operate the pools not just one season but forever?
Let’s talk streets, bikes, traffic calming and the rest. Could we invest a portion of the saving in endowing a field office for the South Bay Association of Governments where these services would be made available to all the cities in return for pro-rated contributions. Traffic calming expertise, bike route planning and the rest are not as city specific skills sets as you might think. Couldn’t a group designing and implementing best practices for Campbell, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Santa Clara and other cities also provide even better expertise in San Jose?
Are streets paved differently across the border in Milpitas and Santa Clara? Could we pool resources there?
Dare to think bigger than the current muddled mess before us….
Blair,
Libraries are being used as a hostage for future tax increases. City leaders will tell residents the sale tax increase must be approve or libraries will be closed most days of the week. Our leaders are smart enough to know San Jose residents would never approve a new tax for something like gold plated pension deficits.
An interesting subject – remember the annual parcel fee ballot measure regarding support of the libraries?. The voters fell hook, line and sinker for that one! Only after the special tax passed, did the City commence cutting general funding to libraries more and more each year. What a joke!
Lesson learned: never fall for a trick that involves special fees or taxes dedicated to a particular institution or function in San Jose.
May I add, what where were the first staff cuts? Building Permits reducing staffing by more than half. Result, 4 hour counter waiting times and one month waits to get on the calendar to submit applications. Fortunately progress has been made in hindsight. But foresight does not seem to be the forte of Council and Managers.
Maybe the City Clerk needs to stop feeding council, and commissioners everytime there is a meeting. Councilmembers are very demanding when it comes to the types of snacks and foods they want available every council meeting…In my opinion Mr. Oliverio…THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!