Proposed Rochester budget juggles cuts, services

Written by Brian Sharp, via Democrat and Chronicle

While city residents will pay more in taxes and fees, see their sidewalks plowed less quickly and code enforcement perhaps less responsive, all libraries, recreation centers and firehouses will remain open.

And that, for a budget that began with a $50 million shortfall, was enough to gain Mayor Thomas Richards applause Friday as he outlined his 2011-12 spending proposal.

“These are programs and services that our community needs and values,” he said, detailing his proposal at City Hall. “They are, in fact, symbols of the city’s presence in your neighborhood … of the city’s commitment to your neighborhood and of the city’s permanency.

“And symbols are important.”

Richards, just six weeks in office, presented a $467 million budget that he said is a statement of priorities and philosophy.

Despite a multitude of cuts, he won praise — and new labor contracts — from police and fire union leaders who worked against his election, from a neighborhood leader worried about her side of city, and from City Council.

“He got his hands dirty and got in the middle of (contract talks) and really worked with us,” said Mike Mazzeo, president of the police union.

It wasn’t all good news, but not as bad as some feared.

Year-over-year spending remains flat. Mid-year cuts and a pared-down or deferred capital plan helped reduce the gap to $30 million.

Increases in property tax, water, local works and refuse rates, if adopted in the final budget by City Council next month, would cost the typical homeowner an additional $59.59 next year. The typical business will pay $186.68 more.

The mayor’s proposal eliminates 140 full-time positions overall and includes a potential 79 layoffs — part of an ongoing restructuring necessitated, in part, by rising pension and health insurance costs, officials said. The workforce that emerges will be the smallest in more than 60 years, meaning management will be pressed to sustain service.

“Code enforcement is going to be forced into doing triaging,” said City Council member Carolee Conklin, who will lead the Council’s budget review beginning June 1. “What kind of complaint gets addressed immediately … that’s going to be a management decision.

“If it creates problems, we’re going to hear about it.”

Richards also proposes investment — in 30 more police surveillance cameras, bringing the total to 150 by June 2012; in Midtown infrastructure; in demolition of vacant properties and in four targeted neighborhoods in each quadrant of the city; and in new financial systems to reduce staff time spent on paperwork.

“For the city to prosper and be the place we want it to be, we must continue to invest,” Richards said. “I believe we are beginning to turn decline into growth.”

To balance the budget, Richards would pull $3.9 million from reserves, a rainy-day fund that former Mayor Robert Duffy raided last year for $12 million.

Richards’ proposal would leave the fund balance at just less than $15 million.

Public safety

The Police Department would lose 51 positions that, accounting for vacancies, would result in 26 layoffs. The resulting 726-officer force would be the smallest since 2006-07, and Duffy’s first budget.

The Fire Department would lose 28 positions including some in management, resulting in 12 layoffs and a force strength of 476.

“We are going to make some sacrifices,” said Fire Chief John Caufield, who already cut fire positions in recent years as part of a department reorganization. “There is definitely some management here.”

In both cases, Richards eliminates a Duffy-era “over-hire” of added staff, saying he was not convinced that effort helped lower overtime as intended.

But layoffs might not be necessary, as Richards is proposing a first-ever $15,000 early retirement incentive, estimated to cost the city $7.4 million funded primarily from the city’s retirement reserve.

That cost is not included in the budget proposal. Richards will seek City Council approval in June and submit a budget amendment in November once the number of early-retirement employees is known.

Payments made in anticipation of retirement do not count in pension calculations, according to the state Comptroller’s Office.

While civilian employees would have to decide on early retirement by the end of July, police and firefighters would not be eligible until fall so staffing levels can be maintained through the summer.

About 165, or one in six, police officers are retirement eligible, while 26, or roughly one in 20 firefighters, could take advantage of the benefit.

Meanwhile, the new five-year contracts for police and firefighters, without a contract since 2008, awards combined raises of 8.7 percent for 2008-2011 and 1 percent each of the next two years.

The city has put away money, anticipating a wage settlement but also will have to pull from contingency to cover the bill, officials said.

“Hopefully this stabilizes what we’ve got for a little while and gives the mayor a little breathing room,” said Jim McTiernan, president of the firefighters’ union. “He came in here with a lot on his plate, not of his doing.”

The city also settled a handful of grievances with police, bundling them together for a one-time $1,000 payment per person for everything.

And all city government management, under a wage freeze the past three years, would receive a 4 percent pay raise retroactive to July 2010 with no increase in the coming year, under Richards’ proposal.

Neighborhoods

Enhanced library services at the busy Sully branch off Webster Avenue would be cut from 70 hours to 40 hours, under Richards’ proposal, and the planned restart of the bookmobile is canceled.

But there was talk of closing the Winton, Charlotte and Highland branch libraries, as well as the South Avenue recreation center.

Richards outlined those and other scenarios in community sessions that drew record attendance last month when he went to the South Avenue center and Mary Staropoli and others crowded around to offer suggestions on how to keep the center and adjacent Highland branch library open.

She and her neighbors have felt under siege this spring, as the school board recently passed significant cuts affecting schools in their area.

“I have a lot of faith in Tom Richards right now,” said Staropoli, chairwoman of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association. “I believe he genuinely listened. It wasn’t just an exercise.”

Another shift in costs, affecting sidewalk snowplowing, would increase the number of runs but not send out the plows until accumulation reaches 4 inches, up from the current 3 inches.

Richards’ administration sought input from the Center for Disability Rights before proposing the change. Reaction has been mixed.

“People are concerned about the plowing and the care of sidewalks in the residential areas,” said Chris Hilderbrant, the center’s chief operating officer. “If that takes a step down, that’s a problem for people. But at the same time, if (plowing) is improved on the arterials, that is a benefit.”

Ultimately, however, it comes down to everyone doing their part, Hilderbrant said. Richards said much the same about the budget proposal.

The goal, Richards said, it to put the city in a position for future prosperity. For the here and now, that requires tough decisions.

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com