Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

January 20, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MAYOR CUTS AND FREEZES OVERTIME

Mayor James J. Fiorentini today ordered all non-contractual overtime, outside of public safety, frozen effective immediately. A budget freeze means that whatever overtime the department has not used, will be cut from the budget and they will unable to use it throughout the remainder of the year.

Fiorentini estimated that the overtime freeze would save the City approximately $27,000.

Fiorentini said that he would meet with Police and Fire Departments to talk about reducing overtime in their accounts and would have a further announcement on that later.

Fiorentini said that freezing overtime accounts was the next step to have the City prepared for what are expected to be mid-year cuts to state aid. Fiorentini has also closed City Hall on Monday and Fridays evenings, ordered all thermostats turned down in City buildings and cut his own travel account.

Fiorentini, noting that his budget last June cut seven positions and that he had to cut an additional $1M in October, stated:

“Facing cuts in overtime will inhibit our ability to serve to public but are vitally necessary if we’re going to be prepared for the storm that we know is coming. However, the public should be aware that we are running out of easy cuts. If the cuts are as large and as deep as the legislators have been warning us, we will be forced to make much more difficult and painful budget cuts.

“Making these cuts in advance, allows us to be in the strongest possible position when the expected state aid cuts hit in a few weeks.”