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City May Try 4-Day Work Schedule

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 7, 2008

PORT RICHEY - With energy costs rising, city officials here are considering the latest trend in city government: a four-day workweek.

Under the proposal, still in its infancy, city employees would work 10-hour shifts Monday through Thursday. City Hall would be closed Friday.

That would mean lower cooling, energy and transportation costs, as well as easier access to city services for residents who work during traditional business hours.

Police and firefighters likely would be exempt from the changes, and public works and utility crews would remain on call in the event of water main breaks or street flooding.

If approved, the move would make Port Richey one of a growing number of cities across the country to reduce work hours as a means of minimizing steadily rising overhead costs.

City Manager Richard Reade said the proposed change would save thousands of dollars in fuel and electricity costs for the city, and minimize employees' pain at the gas pump.

Reade said the move is one of several cost-cutting initiatives being tossed around.

"We're doing everything we can to reduce costs and streamline efficiency," he said.

Ultimately, the city council would have to approve the changes.
Mayor Richard Rober, who proposed the idea, said it makes sense.

"In this economy, every dollar matters," he said. "And this will save the city money."

How much money the city might save from the changes is unclear. Officials didn't have figures on what it costs to keep City Hall open and operate a fleet of municipal vehicles.

"We haven't put a dollar figure on it yet," Reade said.

Steve Sarnoff, president of Local 3179 of the Communications Workers of America, which represents about two dozen city workers, supports the city's proposal but said there are many details to work out before his membership approves of the changes.

For one, there has to be a plan in place for dealing with unexpected events.

"You can't just say, 'Sorry the city's closed, come back on Monday,'" Sarnoff said.

Last month, officials in Utah announced it would become the first state to adopt the "4/10" week.

The mandatory change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80 percent of the workforce. Public universities, courts, prisons and other critical services will be exempt.

In the Tampa Bay area, several cities, including Clearwater and Largo, have shortened their weeks, and others will be considering similar arrangements during the next year.

As gas prices hover around $4 a gallon, the practice also is becoming more common in the private sector. That includes condensing the workweek and telecommuting.

In some cities, the changes have become a hardship for workers who depend on public transportation or day care programs that typically end before the 10-hour day is over.

Officials also have met with resistance from residents concerned that the changes could disrupt the usual government office hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Despite that, Reade thinks city employees, and the public, will support the changes.

"It's going to boost morale, which will improve the level of public service," he said.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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