Pay freeze, layoffs possible for city workers

McLin: City won’t raise tax rate

Santorum to visit Warren County
11:50 p.m.
Benefit dinner held for girl  who died in car accident
11:12 p.m.
Suburbs looking for ways to save, focus on regional issues
11:11 p.m.
Victim of human trafficking speaks to students
11:01 p.m.
Bullying law brings rule changes
10:04 p.m.
> More headlines

By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 1:21 AM Thursday, September 24, 2009

DAYTON — City employees could once again be casualties of budget cuts as Dayton adjusts to fewer citizens and less revenue.

City Manager Rashad Young said he expects layoffs in 2010 even if employee unions accept a second year of wage freezes.

The announcement came during a finance committee briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

“Income tax is not growing. In fact it is shrinking,” Young said. “When we make projections for expenditures in 2010, we are assuming we will not be giving employee raises.”

With planning for the 2010 budget under way, Young said the city is still dealing with a $1.8 million shortfall for 2009.

That’s small change compared to the $17 million hole in the 2010 budget. Young said it will take a “Herculean effort” to cut that much.

Right-sizing the city’s employee base has already been part of the culture at City Hall since 2001. Dayton had 11.5 workers in 2001 for every 1,000 citizens.

In 2008, there were just fewer than 10 city employees per 1,000 residents.

From 2001 to 2008, Dayton’s population declined by nearly 10,000 — from 163,962 residents to 154,200.

Deputy City Manager Stan Earley said there is no magic rule dictating how many employees the city should have.

Comparisons with similar-sized cities are difficult because each is organized differently.

For example, Dayton’s employee roster includes airport employees. Not all cities do. Some other cities in Ohio include library employees as city workers.

The city has 1,404 full-time employees, 126 fewer than a year ago. The reduction came from employee buyouts, 10 layoffs and conversion of 22 full-time positions to part time.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article