[Editor’s Note: A message that Interim City Manager Lamont Ewell circulated to all city officials and employees today after succinctly presenting the proposed budget for the new fiscal year to the City Council at last night’s meeting.]
Dear Fellow Employees:
[img]843|left|Interim City Manager Lamont Ewell||no_popup[/img]As you are aware, the city of Culver City has been exploring all opportunities to creatively balance our budget, while trying to safeguard our city’s most valuable resource, our employees.
In response to the realities of the current economic environment at both the state and national levels, we're taking important steps to reduce expenditures at the city. I want to tell you about the city’s proposed approach to address the budget crisis and what has led up to this critical moment in time.
It is clear that Culver City is not immune to the effects of the economy. Several key local revenues, which were once relied upon for Culver City’s operations, have been severely reduced or depleted.
To address this situation, the city must combine a commitment to changing the way we do business with swift, yet prudent actions to reduce our expenditures.
As fiscal year 2009-10 comes to a close in the upcoming weeks, Culver City is facing a $5 million structural deficit between recurring revenues and expenditures.
Some of this deficit will be reduced by onetime revenues. The City Council has authorized the use of approximately $3.2 million in General Fund reserves to close the remaining deficit for fiscal year 2009-10.
Now, we need to take additional steps to address the fiscal year 2010-11 projected budget shortfall. We must make adjustments to ensure that our expenditures balance current and future revenues.
Today’s economy requires that local governments, such as Culver City, continue to increase their efficiency.
As part of the process of adjustments, departments have been asked to propose cuts of approximately 3 percent
Regrettably, it will be necessary to recommend the elimination of up to 60 positions.
Of the eliminated positions, 30 are currently vacant, 14 are being eliminated through the retirement incentive, and the remaining 16 are filled positions representing potential layoffs.
Incorporated into the proposed budget are further steps to minimize the action of layoffs. This would include a proposed offer of a third round of the retirement incentive for those classifications being eliminated. These actions will not be easy. Our priority remains doing right by our community and our employees.
For employees who are directly affected, I know this will be a hard time for you, and I want to assure you that the city will provide help and support to you during this transition. Human Resources and the Employee Assistance Program will provide job resources and counseling services as necessary.
The decision to eliminate positions is a very challenging one. The Culver City team of employees is the foundation of everything we do, and we place a high value on the commitment and hard work that you have dedicated to the community. But, we believe these job eliminations are necessary to the city’s ability to reduce expenditures, so that we have the resources to maintain city services.
While this is the most challenging economic climate Culver City has ever faced, I want to reiterate my confidence in the strength of Culver City and soundness of our approach. We are committed to doing everything reasonable to reduce negative impacts on our workforce. We will keep you updated on our progress as we move through this Budget process.
P. Lamont Ewell
Mr. Ewell may be contacted at lamont.ewell@culvercity.org
