Indexes
February 8th, 2010
February 6th, 2010
February 5th, 2010
February 4th, 2010
February 3rd, 2010
February 2nd, 2010
February 1st, 2010
The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (74)
- President Obama's first year (67)
- Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
- Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
- Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
- Writer comments on Neely column (42)
- Many reject the politics of 'no' (42)
- The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
- Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
- Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (31)
ADVERTISEMENT
City considering furloughs, trying to avoid layoffs
More then 50 people piled into Carnegie Forum early today to hear the plans for city budget cuts. The cuts are to make up for what will be a $1.46 million shortfall in the General Fund if the city does nothing before June 30.
The General Fund is the city's discretionary money with about 60 percent spent on police and fire.
The city has been working with the union bargaining groups to find ways to cut spending that would not involve layoffs.
"I appreciate that employees are looking out for the city and each other and coming up with solutions that have the least impact on services," Mayor Larry Hansen said.
City staff has suggested that solutions could be furloughs once a month for non-public safety staff, not filling some open positions, suspending contributions to the workers' public equivalent of a 401K and providing two additional years credit to employees' retirement as an incentive to retire.
The main argument at the meeting was over fire dispatching service, which in the end was taken off the table. The city is about 10 days away from taking over fire dispatch locally.
"We knew it would cost a little bit more," Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock said. "But to have that shorter dispatch time, it makes more sense. You don't assign a cost to the cost of a life."
City staff suggested the city could save a couple of thousand dollars a year if it went with American Medical Response, a private company that serves San Joaquin County. The city recently settled a lawsuit that stipulated if the city did not have a local system in place by March 1, it would be required to use AMR dispatching and would not be able to switch to local service.
About 20 firefighters, some in uniform, attended the meeting. Lodi Fire Department Division Chief Aimee Murry said she has already trained staff, the department has already upgraded the equipment and dispatchers were even on a field trip today to put the final touches on how the system will transfer to Lodi.
"I'm asking it stays in the city of Lodi. We have worked hard in the last six months to a year to bring the dispatch to Lodi," she said.
Hansen asked that the city staff not pursue the option of switching service because three council members, including Hitchcock and Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce, disagreed with changing it.
City staff will take the direction the council gave today, finish negotiations with the bargaining groups, and come back possibly Feb. 18 with recommendations. The city would like to implement the changes to the budget starting March 1.
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com
Search for Ads 
Today’s Print Ads 
RSS Feeds
Reader Feedback
ameriCAN wrote on Feb 10, 2009 8:59 PM:
lodidian wrote on Feb 10, 2009 8:17 PM:
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Feb 10, 2009 8:14 PM:
But the Fire & Police Unions have way too much pull in this still small city politically. Especially the Fireman's Union.
I've heard some things happening at the FD but dont want to go on record here since I have yet it in this fishwrap. "
OTH wrote on Feb 10, 2009 7:45 PM:
As long as you have a retired police chief sitting on the city council IMHO there is no way the police or fire will be asked to give up anything. Stockton PD refused furloughs or pay cuts and it cost them 29 positions. Sacramento is getting ready to go through the same thing. They want a 14 % raise.
The police and fire unions contribute heavily to elected officials campaigns. They expect to be taken care of in lean times, everyone else is supposed to sacrifice. "
ameriCAN wrote on Feb 10, 2009 6:48 PM:
sam wrote on Feb 10, 2009 5:16 PM:
What a waste of your taxpayers money. "
t jefferson wrote on Feb 10, 2009 4:28 PM:
ameriCAN wrote on Feb 10, 2009 4:22 PM:
peek wrote on Feb 10, 2009 4:12 PM:
This is the worst possible time for somebody to lose their job. It will devistate the family. It's time for the City to do what's right. Let everyone take a small hit in the wallet and save several families from economic disaster! "
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Feb 10, 2009 4:01 PM:
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Can you tell us just HOW the City of Lodi subsidizes the Chambers group trip to China? After all, it is open to any person in the general public. BTW, I hear it's a great trip and on helluva bargain too.
Just more unproven innuendos by Mr. Load. "
stucknlodi wrote on Feb 10, 2009 1:40 PM:
loadeye wrote on Feb 10, 2009 12:48 PM:
Just what's wrong with layoffs or firings? You've been doing that all along. Look at the number of people on Maintenance, LEUD could use a dozen more capable employees and maintenance and janitorial have barely half the employees doing twice the work, while city staff and office and management are loade up like there's no tomorrow, and the cuts need to start at Hutchins Square, city hall and LEUD. Way too much pork at all three. No more funding for the chamber of commerce to make China trips and let the DLBP solicit their own funds and dues from members and no more city funding to any of the wealthy and well-connected who run non-profits here in Lodi and pay themselves as administrators. "
concerned parent wrote on Feb 10, 2009 10:59 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.