By Jeff Burton, Times of Northwest Indiana
jeff.burton@nwi.com
HAMMOND | City Council members are considering a pair of resolutions that could eliminate the possibility of layoffs for police and fire personnel.
The two resolutions, one sponsored by 2nd District Councilman Al Salinas calling for casino revenues to temporarily alleviate a budget gap in the Police and Fire departments and another by 5th District Councilman Dan Repay and Salinas that would create a voluntary early retirement program for all city employees, come on the heels of an announcement by Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr. some $13 million needs cut from the city's operating budget.
Under the proposed early retirement program, qualifying full-time employees who take advantage of the program would receive retiree insurance benefits and $1,000 for each year of municipal employment. Applications would have to be submitted by Sept. 1, and employees would have to be out the door by Sept. 15.
Involuntary cuts from the ranks of police and fire personnel is what Salinas' resolution seeks to avoid. Under that proposal, councilmen and the mayor's office would provide casino revenues to create a budgetary buffer for the Police and Fire departments while a more permanent solution is explored.
"Hammond police officers and firemen perform jobs that are vital and important to all Hammond residents," McDermott said. "I understand the safety and security of our residents come first and I am doing everything possible to avoid fire and police layoffs."
The plan would shave some $1.6 million, from a budget deficit that the city is estimating at $13 million, though officials with the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance said last week that only $7.8 million needs to be cut from the current operating budget. The $1.6 million is the amount of casino revenue the plan would include.
During Monday night's City Council meeting, Rick Calinski, McDermott's chief of staff, said administrators and union heads of both departments have seen the plan and haven't voiced opposition to it.
If the plan receives final approval from the council, ultimately 10 officers would be pared from the Police Department's current ranks, bringing the department to 200 officers. It would also initiate the loss of nine firefighters, leaving the Hammond Fire Department with 171 firefighters.