All of you have been asked this year to make sacrifices in order to keep the City running smoothly during this very difficult economic downturn. From more closely monitoring your spending to filling in where needed due to the hiring freeze, you have all done your part and I am truly grateful and most appreciative that you have all pitched in for the good of this wonderful City and its citizens.
This year, while many organizations furloughed employees and eliminated positions, we were able to avoid furloughs or reductions in force. However, next year will be even more of a challenge for us, and it will be necessary to implement budget reduction measures that will affect City employees.
Faced with the options of eliminating positions and potentially seeing hardworking employees lose their jobs on the one hand or furloughing employees on the other, I have made the decision to recommend an employee furlough to City Council as part of the 2010 budget. I have agonized and have had many sleepless nights coming to this very difficult decision. If I felt there was anything I could do or recommend to avoid having to furlough our employees in 2010, I would most certainly do so. Unfortunately, this step is unavoidable at this time.
For non-sworn employees, Police Majors, and Deputy Fire Chiefs, the following holidays will be unpaid in 2010:
Presidents Day 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Independence Day July 4th
Labor Day 1st Monday in September
Day after Thanksgiving November 26th
In addition to the unpaid holidays listed above, department heads, including the Police and Fire Chiefs, will not be paid for the following holidays:
New Year’s Day January 1st
Veteran’s Day November 11th
To ensure proper fire and law enforcement coverage for public safety reasons, sworn fire and police will be handled in an alternative manner. Sworn fire employees will be furloughed (1) twenty-four hour shift, and sworn police employees will be furloughed for a comparable amount of time.
I have always been proud of the wonderful paid holiday benefits that the City provides to employees, and most years, this year included, it has truly been my pleasure to give employees the benefit of additional paid time off for the Christmas holiday. I am deeply saddened that it is necessary to reduce paid holidays for 2010 and I know and appreciate that this will have an effect on all of you - and for that I am truly sorry. I want you to know I personally will be taking 9 unpaid holidays, two more than our department heads.
I have no doubt that, just as in years past, we will recover from this recession and its aftermath, and that these tough times will only make us and our City stronger. I ask that you all continue to work together to provide the same excellent service to our citizens as we move forward. I continue to be inspired by your efforts and I am very proud to serve with each of you.
With admiration and deep regard,
Joe
