Livingston CA / Nov. 10, 2011 --- City employees will not lose their jobs for economic reasons in fiscal year 2012 but their salaries are frozen, according to a document made public Thursday by the City of Livingston.
“This budget is prepared in the context of the most difficult financial and political environment since the Great Depression,” according to a memo to the city council signed by Victoria Lewis, assistant city manager/finance director.
“The housing industry collapsed in 2007 and the local economy is still in recession. City revenues in most areas are either flat or declining, while operating costs have increased.
“The governor and the state legislature are continually trying to raid city funds to close their own budget gap. For years, the city has monitored the situation and has responded positively and proactively to this challenging environment by downsizing staff through attrition, reducing operating costs and delaying capital projects.”
Employees will not receive cost-of-living or benefit increases, but merit increases will remain part of city policy, according to Lewis.
“Livingston is one of the few government entities in California that has not been forced to take these severe personnel actions due to the prudent and conservative manner in which the city has managed its money,” Lewis wrote.
Employees will help the city maintain the same services it provided last year, according to the memo, but “all employees are going to have to do more with fewer resources” and “the public and the city council will need to understand that the city's response to issues, complaints and requests may take longer.”
Action on the budget is on the council agenda for Nov. 15.
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