By SCOTT SMITH, Kokomo Tribune staff writer
scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
About one-third of Kokomo city employees will be working an additional five hours per week, without pay, thanks to new work rules starting Aug. 9.
City director of operations Randy Morris sent out a memo to city employees Monday, outlining a number of new efficiency measures.
Under the new rules, non-contractual employees will still receive 40 hours' pay per week, but will no longer enjoy a paid lunch hour.
That means about 140 city employees will be re-arranging their usual 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. work hours.
The change won't affect public hours of operation at city facilities. City Hall, for example, will still be open for public business from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
But the non-contractual employees will have to decide when to add five hours per week to their individual work schedules - possibly working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
"It's going to cut down on the need for overtime and comp time, because they're now going to be working a full 40-hour week," Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said Monday.
With the city's financial situation teetering on the brink, Kokomo Common Council members are about to begin the 2010 budget process.
Goodnight said he doesn't expect many of the seven measures outlined Monday to immediately result in huge cost savings.
"These are little things, but the reason you do little things is to make sure everybody knows we're not just looking at a quick fix," Goodnight said.
The new, longer work week won't apply to the police, fire or AFSCME bargaining units, and it's uncertain whether any other local government agencies will follow the lead.
In addition to ending paid lunches for non-contractual employees, the city is tightening rules for authorizing overtime, cell phone usage, travel and the use of take-home vehicles.
Last July, the city began charging the dwindling number of employees with take-home vehicles.
Under the rules announced last year, employees who live in the city will pay $10 per week, those who live outside city limits in Howard County will pay $15 per week, and those who live outside the county will pay $25 per week.
Under the rules announced Monday, the charge will go up by $5 per week, and "no out of county take-home vehicles will be permitted."
The city also put in a rule saying any overtime must receive prior approval from a department head, any tuition reimbursement will be limited to classes "relevant to the city's objectives."
Employees incurring overages on city cell phones will also be subject to stricter enforcement of the city's cell phone policy.
Finally, numerous "nonessential" seasonal employees were let go July 31, according to Morris' memo.
Goodnight said some of the new policies were an attempt to anticipate the budget process.
"The president kept talking about change, and all we've had is change," Goodnight said. "Everything keeps changing ... [state property tax reform], then the soft economy, then the tailspin, then Chrysler not paying property tax ... it's hard, just like it is for families, to budget 10, 12 or 18 months into the future. You just do your best."