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City staff warns of furloughs and possible cuts to commissions amid tight general fund
Summary
City staff told the Parks & Trails Commission the general fund is strained, a notice of intent to furlough staff starting May 1 has been issued, and a $24 fee on the May 19 ballot will affect staffing decisions; commissioners discussed options including meeting cadence reductions and volunteer groups.
City staff reported a constrained general fund and described planned personnel adjustments as part of short-term cost-saving measures.
A staff member (John) told the commission he had issued a notice of intent to furlough employees to a 32-hour paid week beginning May 1 if revenue does not improve, and that the city placed a $24 fee on the May 19 ballot intended to sustain services. He said that even if the fee passes, reductions may still be required and that staff are evaluating a range of measures including reduced meeting frequency, consolidating commissions, and other cost-saving options.
Commissioners discussed possible responses, including moving to every-other-month meetings, taking minutes themselves, or bolstering “friends” volunteer groups to preserve park functions with less staff time. Several commissioners said they would rather avoid elimination of the parks commission and would be willing to increase volunteer activity if staffing is reduced.
No final decisions were made at the meeting; staff said they will continue evaluating savings options and will update the commission as the budget process evolves.
