Tampa to shed 30 finance positions to cut costs

Another wave of layoffs is coming to Tampa City Hall.

Last week, 13 fiscal and accounting managers were given 90 days' notice. Another 30 employees in the city's budget office are expected to be laid off next week.

All of the laid off employees will be able to reapply for other newly created jobs once a reorganization of the city's financial and budget officer operations is completed.

Kimberly Crum, the city's director of human resources, said the layoffs are aimed at cutting costs and consolidating financial operations in several city departments, including Revenue and Finance, Fiscal Services, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation.

"We had people in different departments doing the same financial analysis," she said.

The layoffs are expected to save the city about $1 million in personnel costs.

The 13 employees given notice last week will be able to apply for five new management positions created under the consolidation. The 30 employees who will receive their pink slips next week will also be allowed to reapply for newly created budget office positions.

All of the positions will be open to the general public, city officials said.

"We knew this was coming," said Mike Young, secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1464, which represents about 2,000 of the city's blue-collar and clerical workers.

Property tax legislation and a referendum approved by voters in 2008, coupled with a reduction in real estate values, have forced the city to find ways to trim its budget.

Payroll and benefits make up the largest percentage of Tampa's general fund, totaling about $212 million in 2010. During the past two years, the city has reduced its work force by 10 percent, or more than 500 jobs, through layoffs or eliminating vacant positions.

Though many private sector companies and other local governments have imposed pay cuts and furloughs, Tampa has so far been reluctant to impose citywide pay cuts.

This fiscal year, however, the city imposed a freeze on cost-of-living or merit raises for police officers, firefighters and general employees. Observers say that given the financial outlook, the city would be hard pressed to offer raises to workers in fiscal year 2011.