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The city of Onalaska has cut its budget in every department to meet a projected $226,535 shortfall of interest income. In most instances, city services will not be affected. Voluntary furloughs were discussed but are not being implemented at this time.
The brunt of the cuts comes from police and fire department vacancies remaining empty through the end of 2009.
Thirty-six percent of the shortfall will be met through police department cuts. The savings will be achieved by not filling the sergeant vacancy created when Troy Miller was promoted to assistant police chief.
The city also expects to save health and dental insurance costs due to Interim Chief Tim Hauser’s retirement. Because of not filling the vacancy and Hauser’s retirement, the city also expects to save in fuel costs.
Eighteen percent of the cuts comes from the fire department. The vacancy in the fire department from a resignation will not be filled in 2009, saving on salary, taxes and benefit expenses. The department anticipates fewer fire calls than projected and anticipates reductions in part-time wages paid.
To meet the shortfall in projected interest income, most departments have made administrative cuts such as reducing office and operating supplies, canceling publication subscriptions, reducing the number of seminars attended and reducing advertising expenses.
What might become more obvious to city residents is the number of times City Hall is cleaned. The cleaning service that comes to City Hall five days each week will now only come twice, with city employees being asked to complete cleaning duties as assigned. Cleaning services at the library will be reduced from six times a week to three, but there are no plans to ask county library staff to do any janitorial work.
In addition, the city attorney’s budget is reduced, accounting for about 3 percent of the cuts.
Tree and brush control measures also are being cut back, as are machinery and equipment repairs.
The Parks and Recreation department cuts amount to 12 percent of the cuts. Seasonal wages will be reduced, and a half-time person’s hours will be cut by 10 percent.
The Learn to Skate program is being eliminated, saving on fees paid to the OmniCenter.
The city also is reducing baseball and softball coaching wages as well as cutting salaries by 7 percent at the aquatic center.
According to Mayor Mike Giese, a request was sent to all employees to let the city know whether they would be willing to participate in a voluntary furlough. Responses received so far indicate employees are willing to participate in voluntary furloughs amounting to 752 hours, or 94 days, saving the city about $18,500.
“The savings we found elsewhere should reduce the need for furloughs,” Giese said. “It’s just a ballpark. But it’s helpful to know.” He said the employees’ responses were non-binding.
Giese hopes the city won’t have to furlough employees.
“It’s a very difficult thing for people to do,” he said. “They work because they have obligations, they have kids to raise. I don’t take it lightly.”
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