City Announces Reductions in City Services

Received today:

The City of Huntington announced today that due to the continuing weak economic environment, compounded by the loss of traditional tax revenue support from the State of Indiana due to House Bill 1001 as well as the loss of revenue at the local level due to significant increases in property tax assessment appeals, further reductions in city workforce are required. This move, coupled with reductions in non-personnel budgetary expenses, is needed to align the cost of providing services to the citizens of Huntington with available revenue for the foreseeable future.  The City has undertaken a very serious evaluation of its workforce and workforce needs.  In making personnel decisions, the City has considered the appropriate level of services to be provided by the City and critical needs.

In 2008 the City worked with a $15.5 million dollar budget.  In 2010, the City is working with an approximate budget of $10 million.  In order to work within this budget, certain measures have been implemented.  The workforce has been reduced from 175 to 154 at an approximate savings of $440,000.  Employee benefits reductions and insurance premium increases enacted for 2010 amount to a savings of approximately $200,000. 

During this period of financial crisis, the City will be altering the weekly garbage pick-up to a semi-monthly pick-up.  The garbage will be collected on the first full week of each month and the third week of each month.  There will be no spring or fall city wide clean-up.   

The Administration has also determined in the interest of cost savings, the City Landfill will no longer be open on Saturdays.  The Landfill will remain open Monday – Friday, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. 

The Administration will continue analyzing the staffing and duty schedules in each and every department to determine how the departments can work more efficiently and effectively. 

The City Administration will also be working closely in the next few weeks with the Park Director and the Park Board to consider cost saving reductions in that area.