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Commenter says $118,000 staff-savings estimate is "demonstrably false"; council outlines calculation
Summary
A commenter who reviewed personnel spending disputed the city's projected $118,000 savings from restructuring, while the chair described a different estimate and said staff reductions would require negotiations and formal approval.
Natalie Swinander, speaking during public comment, said the city's estimate that restructuring staff would free $118,000 is incorrect.
"We ran our own numbers, and we think this calculation is demonstrably false," Swinander said, summarizing her review of personnel spending and projecting that personnel costs could increase by $60,000–$116,000 next year depending on contract renewals and the return of sewer billing to RBSS.
The chair responded with the city's methodology: the budget message assumes consolidation of certain positions (accounting and admin combined, planning technician and recorder combined, public works and city administrator) and estimated wages and benefits that yield about $299,000 in wages and $181,002.70 in taxes and benefits for the restructured positions — a net reduction described in the meeting as roughly $106,000 from elimination of one position plus other savings.
Both sides urged caution: the commenter said staffing changes should be formally voted upon once completed job descriptions and audited numbers are available; the chair noted ongoing union negotiations and that final savings would depend on those outcomes.
