Payson lays off 6 city employees

PAYSON — Six city employees have been laid off due to a budget shortfall of about $750,000.

Much of the shortage is from bonds the city must pay, including more than $590,000 for the bond to build the new city pool, city manager Richard Nielsen said.

Additionally, the city must keep money in its coffers in case UTOPIA, a statewide fiber-optic communications system, calls in financial commitments that cities — including Payson — have made, Nelson said.

Other efforts, including operation and maintenance, travel and groundskeeping, also have been reduced, he said.

Eliminated positions include business licensing, which is being combined with the accounts payable post; business retention; and long-range planning.

A part-time recreation position and a part-time librarian job also were cut. Economic development director Trista Bishop was given 30 days' notice, the same notice given the other employees.

"I was flabbergasted by it," city planner Jill Spencer said.

Spencer is one of three employees remaining in the planning department. The other two are the department director and a secretary.

The city has had little call for planning staff since the economy has slowed or halted new construction, Councilman Scott Phillip said.

Sales tax revenues in Payson are expected to be down another $225,000 next fiscal year. For the current fiscal year, they're down about $160,000 from the previous year, Nielsen said.

— Rodger L. Hardy