City Outlines 24 Positions on the Chopping Block

The New Port Richey city government might need to do less with less next fiscal year. At least that’s how City Manager John Schneiger describes the situation in his budget message.

So Schneiger is proposing the city from the upcoming fiscal year’s spending plan in an effort to balance the general fund budget, which is proposed to total $16.5 million. Some cuts are layoffs, and some are freezes of vacant positions.

According to Schneiger’s budget message, New Port Richey is faced with  continued decline in taxable property values and revenue. The city population has also declined.

The city also has to contend with a community redevelopment fund that's plagued with debt.

A projection estimates the city deficit will reach almost $17 million oveer the next five years if the city doesn’t plug some financial holes. 

City council members are going to discuss over the course of hammering out the budget the possibility of elimination of the city's and during portions of the year.

So here are positions that are on the chopping block in fiscal year 2013, pending the city council’s final say on the matter. 

 Accounting and Budgeting

• 1 full-time accounting clerk reduced to part-time job

Billing and Collections

• 1 full-time billing supervisor
• 1 full-time administrative
• 1 customer service clerk (unfilled)

Information Technology

• 1 full-time help desk worker transferred to finance

New Port Richey Public Library

• 1 full-time librarian reduced to part-time
• 2 part-time specialists
• 1 part-time custodian

New Port Richey Police Department

• 1 full-time custodian
• 1 sergeant (unfilled)

Firefighting

• 1 part-time clerk hours being reduced
• 3  firefighter jobs (unfilled, but a grant is being sought to fund posoitions)

Development

• 2 part-time receptionists
• 1 full-time development technician

Parks and Recreation

• 1 part-time custodian (retiring)
• 1 full-time recreation manager (unfilled)
• 1 full-time maintenance worker
• 1 full-time swim coach (first made part-time and then planned for elimination)
• 1 full-time aquatics coordinator

Public Works

• 1 full-time administrative assistant (unfilled)
• 1 full-time construction project manager
• 2 full-time maintenance workers (one of which is unfilled)
• 1 full-time utilities mechanic (unfilled)

What do you think should be cut and what should be saved? Let us know in the comments section.