Payson eliminating 11 jobs amid budget cuts

Published: Friday, June 12, 2009 2:01 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

PAYSON — Five city employees will lose more than the merit or cost-of-living pay increases denied their co-workers in Payson's $25.4 million fiscal-year 2010 budget.

They will lose their jobs.

The job cuts could take place over the next two years, totaling 11 positions. Six positions are already unfilled and will be eliminated, city administrator Richard Nelson said.

Positions proposed to be eliminated are in maintenance, streets, landfill and the planning and zoning departments, Nelson said.

Residents may also feel the pinch with a 2 percent rise in utility costs.

Unlike many cities, Payson is operated on transfers from the enterprise fund, which includes water, power and storm-drain fees residents pay monthly.

So it wasn't unusual this year for the city's proposed budget to include a transfer of $2.2 million for administration in its general fund of $8 million. Many cities are dipping into the enterprise fund to meet shortfalls, but for Payson it's business as usual.

"That's the financial model the city adopted years ago," Nelson said.

Overall, the proposed budget is down $2 million from the current budget. Last year's general fund totaled $9.2 million, but like other Utah cities, Payson has seen a drop in revenue.

Story continues below

City officials don't plan to raise property taxes to make up the difference, and no city services are being reduced — except the front counter at the police station closing an hour earlier.

During the 2008-09 fiscal year, $2.5 million in sales taxes were expected, but just $2.3 million came in, financial officer Jeanette Curtis said. For the next fiscal year, the city is expecting $2.4 million.

Revenues also are down in other areas of the city: Gladstan Golf Course is down $10,000, while landfill revenues fell $350,000. Building permits were down, but a recent upsurge in construction will bring that total out of the red for 2009, Curtis said.

The City Council is expected to finalize the budget Wednesday.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com

Recent comments

Totally agree with your #2. Most places have overlap and it makes...

atp | June 12, 2009 at 5:08 p.m.

I can't understand why #1 pay cuts would not permit all to stay...

InterstellarBGrp | June 12, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

You said, "[S]tones sound pretty far fetched to me, literally." As far...

Expect epic clash on the line

Apparently they don't teach basic economic priciples at the Y. You can add...

You're a MWC homer, thats why

This is a wonderful event that Deron Williams foundation and the Utah Jazz...

Boys basketball rankings

Hey Bingham Football players.....Since the B-Ball team basically represented...

Letters: 2 grumpy old men

Since when does one have the right to claim another services, labor, or...

Letters: Trump card for believers

["The Government is NOT here to insure that YOU have equal rights"] 1/3 of...

Keep on living in the past Aggies. The present doesn't look all that great....

Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls

Dream on! The MWC will never get respect especially by inserting a WAC team....

ABC morning show cancels Lambert

i watched it on youtube and it was so offensive I had to watch it twice to...

Advertisements