TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

How Should Avon Park Save Money?

ADVERTISEMENT

By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: February 8, 2009

AVON PARK - To erase $157,000 in revenue shortfalls, City Manager Sarah Adelt has recommended 33 budget cuts and ideas to save money.

In a Saturday morning workshop, she found complete agreement on most of those ideas. One was to reduce the staff by offering free health care benefits for early retirees.

"Do you have any takers?" Mayor Sharon Schuler asked.

"No," Adelt said, but she hasn't offered it yet, because she was waiting for direction from the council. None of the five disagreed with the officer, which wouldn't include a severance salary.

"Would we rehire to fill any of those positions?" City Councilor Al Joe Hinson asked.

"We'd have to see who retires," Adelt answered. "We may move other employees in to replace them."

Another idea was to reduce staff hours, but first, Adelt suggested she should look at contracts with businesses for mowing lawns and other services.

"We need to put our own employees to work before we outsource," Adelt said.

But city councilors disagreed sharply on other proposals:

Hinson, a teacher and coach, scoffed at the idea to charge user fees to youth football, youth baseball and girls softball. Charge adults, he said, but children need more to do, and they would be unable to pay. Schuler agreed.

Vice Mayor Brenda Gray balked at Adelt's suggestion to close public beaches. The city would save money on water testing and other expenses.

"Are we violating state statutes?" Adelt was directed to ask the city attorney, who didn't attend Saturday's meeting.

Schuler agreed with Adelt's proposal to increase sewer rates by 16 percent, and water rates by 11 percent. However, the mayor thought homes with single occupants could get a rate break. The two increases would bring in $355,000.

Even though the water-sewer funds had deficits of $1.5 million, Adelt said, "Cash flow is not severe at this time. We have adequate cash coming in to pay all our bills. This may not be the case in the future."

COST CUTS

Adelt's money-saving ideas:

Reduce management salaries by 5 percent.

Reduce the work week of hourly employees.

Reduce city council meetings to one a month.

Discontinue management take-home vehicles.

Sell city-owned property, including Classic Caladium land at airport.

Charge user fees for youth football, youth baseball and girls' softball, and ask for a percentage of advertising sales for signs.

Eliminate lifeguards and put up "Swim At Your Own Risk" signs at public beaches.

Eliminate canine program at police department.

Request schools pay more salaries and benefits to school resource officers.

Require direct deposit for all employees.

Rent rooms for $15 per hour during business day.

Reduce collection of yard waste and appliances to twice monthly.

Combine city and county services.

Let Fixed Base Operator Richard McKenzie oversee daily operations at airport.

Bid the city's authorized towing company.

Hire a consulting attorney to oversee public safety pension reform.

Highlands Today senior reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5828

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT