HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-09 Mayor’s Office, Building Department downsize staff
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
August 12, 2009
3:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Office, Building Department downsize staff
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
As it today completes its initial schedule of departmental hearings to review the proposed
2010 City budget, the South Bend Common Council reviews two very different
departments that are experiencing the same long-term trend: downsizing staff.
The Mayor’s Office and the Building Department have cut a combined seven (7) full-
time positions in response to the revenue decline experienced by the City of South Bend
as a result of the state’s property tax caps. While the staff cuts mean the elimination of
some activities supported by staff, for the most part they impact the departments’ overall
work capacity and response time.
“Citywide, personnel costs account for 80 percent of our budget. For many departments,
any revenue cuts inevitably mean a reduction in personnel,” said Mayor Stephen J.
Luecke. “We still are performing the same overall functions, but trying to do so with
more deliberate priorities, greater efficiency and tighter resources.”
Between 2007 and 2010, the Mayor’s Office has reduced its staff by 30 percent, from 10
full-time positions to 7. The three positions cut include an Assistant to the Mayor and two
Communications & Special Projects support staff.
This year, Mayor Steve Luecke took a voluntary 5 percent salary reduction along with the
two Assistant Mayors, the Director of Communications and Special Projects, and the
Director of Secretarial Services. In 2010, the two remaining staff in the Mayor’s Office
will take a 5 percent salary reduction. (All Department Heads took 5 percent salary
reductions in 2009.)
The Mayor’s Office budget was reduced by $75,920 in 2009 and $160,389 in 2010, a
combined reduction of 27 percent over two years. In addition to salary and benefit cuts,
the proposed 2010 budget of $646,342 includes a reduction in funding for a federal
lobbyist. Previously, the Mayor’s Office eliminated funding for a state lobbyist. In
addition, the department eliminated its two take-home cars, including one for the Mayor.
Budget line items related to promotion were reduced by more than $35,000.
The City retains membership only in the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, having
cut resources available for dues with the National League of Cities and the U.S.
Conference of Mayors.
The consolidated Building Department serves both the City of South Bend and St. Joseph
County, operating as a self-supporting “enterprise fund” – generating revenue from fee-
based services rather than from property taxes. With a decline in construction resulting
from the global economic crisis, Building Department revenues also have declined.
The Building Department’s proposed 2010 budget of $1,241,746 represents a 5 percent
decrease from 2009. Over the past few years, the department has cut a secretary and a
zoning specialist, while leaving two vacant inspector positions unfilled.
“It started out as a contingency,” said Building Commissioner Charles C. Bulot. “We’re
always trying to be as efficient as possible. … Although we probably could have hired
the personnel to fill out those positions, we chose to go with what we had. … Our
efficiency turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
To improve efficiency, the department is in the process of implementing new computer-
based permitting software, from which it anticipates a 50 percent savings in annual paper
costs. Still, the staff reductions have impacted the department’s ability to respond to
zoning complaints in the county, and reduced sources available for education and training
by 50 percent.
“It is important that our inspectors remain certified. Part of that certification is directly
related to a minimum number of required education-class hours,” Bulot said. “Education
allows the inspectors to maintain their currency in the workplace.”
Also presenting Wednesday was the City’s Human Rights Commission, which is
reducing its budget 14 percent to $403,668 in 2010, including cutting an administrative
assistant position to reduce staff from 7 to 6.
The Council’s Personnel and Finance Committee has added an additional hearing at 11
a.m. Friday to review the revised 2010 budgets for the Police and Fire departments.
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