DANVILLE -- Officials here are trying to avoid a second straight budget that lays off employees. The Danville City Council heard the mayor's proposal, which includes plans that can affect people who live outside the city.

The city is considering new fire service fees. Under this proposal, if the fire department assists a non-Danville resident, it will bill that person for the service, something it hasn't done before. Officials hopes that's just part of a solution that keeps the city out of debt.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer presented new the fire fees during Tuesday's budget proposal. Officials thought of ways to avoid repeating last year's plan which eliminated 25 positions.

"I realized after the presentation last year where we did cut so many employees, that we were really at a number I was extremely comfortable with," Eisenhauer said, "A number I felt was suitable for a community our size."

But not every alderman thinks the city can afford to keep everyone.

"As I called before, because I really couldn't see any other way," said Alderman Steve Foster, "Is we're gonna have to cut some personnel somewhere or do some total reorganization; eliminate some people."

In addition to the new or increased fees, the city will ask union employees in departments like Fire and Public Works to accept a wage freeze and a higher co-pay for insurance. But that will require the unions to re-open their contracts.

"If that doesn't happen, then we are going to have to go back to the drawing board and start looking at where are we going to make those cuts," Eisenhauer said, "I think it would, suffice to say, start in the areas that were not as interested in taking the wage freeze versus those who did come to the table and agree to do so."

The city's non-union employees are currently on a wage freeze that began in the spring. However, they make up just 20% of Danville's 252-person workforce. Regardless of union contract, the city has asked all of its workers to take voluntary furlough days.

Previously, the city had a maximum co-pay of $1,000. The proposed budget increases that to $2,000. Officials hope the new fire service fees bring in $25,000 a year.

Reported by A.J. Bayatpour
Posted: February 3, 2010
New City Budget Could Cost Non-Residents