Press Release: Hayward Makes $800,000 in Budget Cuts, Spares Police and Fire Departments
Fulfilling a campaign pledge to cut unnecessary spending at City Hall,
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward today made over $800,000 in spending
cuts to the current year’s city budget. The savings would come from
eliminating vacant positions throughout the city government, except
for public safety.
The cuts, which represent the elimination of 20 currently vacant
positions, are a result of a comprehensive review of the current
fiscal year budget by the Mayor and his staff.
“I’ve said throughout the campaign and since being sworn in, that our
city government will have to do more with less,†said Mayor Ashton
Hayward. “Every business, household or family I know is dealing with
the same financial pressures that the City is dealing with, and we
have to address them.â€
“By eliminating these vacant positions, we will be able to continue
providing the essential services and amenities our citizens expect
without raising taxes, and we will also ensure that our citizens are
kept safe by our fire and police departments,†said Hayward, noting
that vacant positions in the City’s fire and police departments were
not included in the spending reductions.
As a part of Hayward’s budget review process, city departments were
requested to provide a list of budget cuts at 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% for
the current fiscal year. Vacant positions were identified throughout
Pensacola’s city government, and Hayward worked with department
directors to eliminate unneeded positions. The total savings,
including the cost of salaries, taxes, insurance, and pensions for the
20 positions was $808,269.
The vacant positions break down as follows:
Parks & Recreation
Positions: 5 $178,899.00
Housing / CDBG
Positions: 1 $40,036.00
Library
Positions: 4 $193,899.00
ESP
Positions: 4 $171,524.00
Sanitation
Positions:2 $80,318.00
Airport
Positions: 3 $107,694.00
Risk Management
Positions: 1 $35,898.00
Total Positions: 20 $808,268.00
These cost-cutting measures come after Hayward previously pulled
take-home city vehicles from several staff, reallocated funds to pay
for long-overdue improvements and community centers on Pensacola’s
west side, and made infrastructure upgrades to support the investments
at the Community Maritime Park.
Hayward said the vacancy eliminations were part of an overall
reorganization of city government that his administration would be
rolling out as part of the upcoming budget process.
“I promised the citizens that I would change the way City Hall does
business, and this is one more step in that direction,†said Hayward.
“This is a substantial savings to our city budget and for our
taxpayers, and I hope that the Council will join me in making our city
government a leaner, more efficient operation to serve our citizens.â€