04-25-32 Council Meeting Minutes

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The great need of cooperation between the legislative and administrative branches of South Bend municipal government in its drive for government economy and lower taxes, is apparent when an analysis is made of the division of responsibility for existing salary and wage schedules.` May I assure the Members of the Common Council of my heartfelt thanks for their.definite action of the last Monday which makes apparent their desire to coy- operate with the administration in its program of tax relief fcr the citizens and taxpayers of South Bend." The administrations g program for reductions in the budget and tax rate is, as follows: (a) Salaries and wages will be reduced to meet present economic conditions.' (b) All expenditures of every kind will be reduced to an absolute minimumx (c) Municipal government services that can, without injury to the citizens of the city, will be eliminated.' (d) New methods of administrative, efficiency will be applied wherever possible*` Employees, resulting from elimination of services and new eff icien.cy .plans, will be dropped from the payroll.' Regarding definite salary reductions, it will be necessary to first set out the three classifications of salaries and wages; 1 Sztatutory salaries: Any.reduction of statutory salaries must be voluntary upon the part of the office holder.' These salaries are established by the State Legislature, but must be concurred in by the Common Council through an adopted ordinance. This ordinance.f fixes the salary for the Mayor, City Controller; Deputy City Controller; Treasurer; Deputy Treasurer; City Judge; City Clerk, Deputy City Clerk; Board of Works, its Clerk; Board of Safety, its Clerk; City Attorney; and the twelve members of the Common Council.' 2 — Wages and salary schedule by ordinance, other than Statutory; These wages and salaries are established by the Common Council through the adoption of an ordinance fixing the wages or salaries to be paid to the policemen, firemen and other employees.' Reductions for these employees must be made by the Common Council.'. 3 � Administrative or Budget salaries: This includes all city employees not covered under the two foregoing classifications and reductions 0 are subject to administrative orders. Recommendations for statutory salary reductions: The law does nofi permit me to order a salary reduction in this classification except my own personal salary, with this onea execution I am limited to recommendations and precept' I have ordered the City Controller, beginning next monthi, to deduct and retain in the City General Fund 15% of all monthly salary checks due me, the money derived from this deduction to be used by the City in its operation and I release the City from all obligations to pay this 15fo deduction from each salary check due me for the period of this emergency, and I further recommend to the Common Council, the City Clerk and her Deputy, the City Judge, the City Controller and his Deputy.* the City Treasurer and his Deputy, the Board of-Works and its Clerk, the Board of Safety and its Clerk, and all other employees of the City of South Bend receiving statutory or fixed contract salaries also to make reductions`! The direct saving to the taxpayers by a reduction of 150 would be $10,950., or approximately one half cent in the tax rate.! The statutory slaries paidto the following off6cers with -the saving that .would be made by a reduction of 15% is, as follows: Mayor 7,500.1 at 1Me 1'100.00. (1) Controller 6,000. at 15% 9 Deputy Controller 2,500.' at 15% 320.`00 �1� Clerk x-,800.' at 15% 375.'00 (1) Deputy Clerk 2,500. at 15% City Judge 6,000.' at 15% 900.'00 (1) Common Council 1231000.1 at 15% 1,800.;00 (12) City Attorney 5: 000. at 15% 750.100 (1) , .'00 Board of 'forks 10,, 1 3, (3) 800. at 15% 62 20 0.'00 (1) Clerk n 22000.' at 15% 3 Board of Safety 3, 6o0. at 15% 540000 (3 l e r N 1 500.` at 1 0 27 ?fl (1)' Clerk 5f