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This morning, Mayor Fischer outlined steps he and his team have already taken and will take over the next several weeks to address a $35 million budget shortfall in the fiscal year starting July 1. The Mayor and Metro Council President David James also invited employees and residents to share their ideas for efficiencies via a confidential online form. Residents can submit their ideas here.
The Mayor will present his full budget proposal on April 25.
The steps the Mayor outlined today include:
- Canceling the June LMPD recruit class because offers would have to have been made before the Mayor presets his budget on April 25 and before the Council votes on June 25.
- Changes to city employee health insurance benefits.
- Potential elimination of a cost-of-living increase for employees in the next fiscal year. Because 75 percent of the workforce is represented by unions, the city began with letters to union leaders asking them to consider voting to accept this measure.
- Examining leases and contracts, including LMPD’s contract with ShotSpotter, that may need to be altered or canceled before July 1.
- Parks & Recreation will not open its four outdoor swimming pools this summer and is increasing fees at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center. The decision not to open the pools is being made now because this is the time the process of hiring lifeguards would begin.
- Meetings with suburban city mayors to discuss Metro assets within their city limits.
- Mayor Fischer also called on businesses, non-profits, community groups and individuals to support or sponsor external agencies that have relied on Metro funding. “We must be creative in keeping them going,” the Mayor said. “That has to start with community members stepping up and doing the right thing, over and over again.”
Learn more about these steps here.
The budget shortfall is expected to grow to $65 million by fiscal year 2023. |
