Mayor Alvin Brown is moving on to the second phase of government reform that focuses on budget cuts and he said that among other savings, “layoffs are on the table.”
With the structural aspects of City government reform approved by City Council on Tuesday, the second phase dealing with financial savings has moved to the top of his agenda.
The administration began taking steps on potential savings in the areas of fleet management, information technology, procurement and personnel before Council’s approval of the first phase, Brown said Wednesday.
More savings and cuts will be determined in January. He said the goal is to cut department budgets by 10-15 percent are the goal and that layoffs are part of the discussion. The City has about 8,000 employees.
During a Council workshop in November, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Hyde estimated cuts of $76 million, consisting of $32 million from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, $31 million from the administration, $7 million from internal service funds and $4 million from the constitutional officers.
Brown said he will talk to people inside and outside City government for ways to cut the budget.
“The lines of communication are open,” Brown said.
After passing the first phase of reform 16-1, several Council members weighed in Thursday on the second phase and their expectations from the administration.
Those reached separately agreed on two areas: the administration should present proposals of department cuts in smaller pieces of legislation and should not set a deadline for Council approval.
Phase one of Brown’s plan took 87 pages. He introduced the legislation Nov. 8 and sought a Dec. 13 approval date from Council.
“Make it simple for citizens and anyone else to understand,” said Council member Matt Schellenberg. “Eighty-seven pages in five weeks is enormous.”
“From my perspective, it’s easier to review the legislation if it’s smaller,” said Council member Lori Boyer.
“You don’t have to do everything at once,” said Council member Jim Love.
As for a deadline, the identification of savings is necessary for the next budget review, Council members said. Brown’s next budget is due in time for Council review and approval by Sept. 30.
“There is certainly going to be a timetable with the budget coming up,” said Love.
“The timetable needs to be around the budget,” said Council member Robin Lumb. “But, I’d rather see him (Brown) get a good result.”
At the Council workshop, Hyde told Council members “there will be difficult choices that will have to be made.”
Asked if there were any cuts they would specifically oppose, Love and Boyer said they wanted to hear explanations of proposed cuts from the administration and would be willing to listen to Brown’s suggestions.
Lumb said he intends to make public safety his No. 1 priority in 2012 and would oppose proposed cuts there.
Asked what they wanted to see in the second phase of reform, Council members varied.
“I am looking forward to seeing where they believe they can restructure and save significant taxpayer dollars,” said Boyer.
Boyer said many of her concerns, such as a reviewing the investment policy and departmental powers and authorities, were labeled as second-phase discussions by the administration and she is looking for progress.
Boyer said neighborhoods are a source of civic engagement and pride and she wants to see more emphasis on maintaining neighborhoods, parks and structures.
Lumb said he was a strong advocate of outsourcing City services and wanted to see more in the next phase. He used the city of Sandy Springs, Ga., a municipality that outsourced all general government services, with the exception of public safety, as an example of where the City could learn.
Schellenberg, the opposing vote Tuesday, said he wanted the administration to reach out to prior administration officials to learn how to further save within its structure.
“I wish he had done more of this in the first phase,” Schellenberg said.
He also wanted to see a greater emphasis on communication among government departments, which he said would lead to savings through eliminating inefficiencies.
Love said he wanted to hear Brown’s ideas.
“You have to think about everything being on the table,” Love said. “We’re going to have to make some changes. We just have to.”
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