The city of Springfield's lackluster sales tax revenue, combined with increased payments into the Police and Fire Pension Fund, has led to the situation City Manager Greg Burris hoped to avoid: city staff layoffs and employee pay reductions.
In his Sept. 22 presentation to Springfield City Council, Burris noted that sales tax to the city's general revenue fund is down 9.75 percent through the first quarter of fiscal 2009, resulting in a shortfall of nearly $1 million.
In response, Burris outlined recommendations for a 10 percent spending reduction in most city departments, effective Oct. 1. He said a continuation of the current hiring freeze - now at 107 full-time employees plus 50 contract and seasonal workers - will save nearly $400,000, but additional cuts will be necessary.
Among the biggest reductions:
• The city will eliminate the comprehensive planning office and reorganize the Planning & Development department, resulting in four layoffs by Nov. 1.
• The Police and Fire departments will cut spending on travel, equipment and training, though there will not be cuts to training required for certifications or for new academy recruits.
• Cuts also will be made to the Parks and Public Works departments, resulting in additional frozen staff positions, cuts in facility cleaning and cancellation of maintenance contracts.
The plan also calls for all department heads and upper management to take two mandatory furlough days between now and May 30, 2010. All general fund attorneys in the Law department will take an additional two furlough days to cover that department's 10 percent spending reduction.
"I think this is just about the most difficult thing that the leader of any organization has to do, when you talk about recommendations that affect people's lives this way," Burris said.
A new hotel?
Bass Pro Shops owner John L. Morris wants to add to his list of properties by building a new development across the street from the mega-retailer's flagship facility.
To that end, council held first reading of a rezoning request for 7.35 acres on South Campbell Avenue, across the street from Bass Pro's main store.
The request would rezone the property to a highway commercial district, and the initial plans of the owners - Campus Rentals LLC and American Sportsman Holdings Co., both Bass Pro affiliates - are to build a five-story hotel on the site for Bass Pro visitors.
Though final plans aren't complete for the development, members of the neighboring Seminole/Holland Neighborhood Association are hoping to put a stop to the plans.
Four neighborhood residents opposed the proposal, citing privacy concerns as well as traffic, storm-water and sewer issues that a new development could create.
Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP attorney Richard Walters, representing the developers, said his clients have been attempting to work with neighbors by expanding buffer areas and setting the hotel far enough away from homes to alleviate privacy questions. He added that the owners have spent several years acquiring the property needed for the development.
"The location would be used to handle the millions of people who visit the store," Walters told council, adding that interviews conducted with store visitors indicated they had a favorable opinion about a potential hotel.
"This is not a recent decision; my clients have been looking forward to long-term development there."
But Trish Pearson, president of the neighborhood association, said the development would exacerbate water runoff issues in an area that already needs major improvements to its aging infrastructure.
She also questioned the need for another hotel.
"There is a hotel across the street - it's the Days Inn on Sunshine," she said.[[In-content Ad]]
Moseley’s Discount Office Products was purchased; Side Chick opened in Branson; and the Springfield franchise store of NoBaked Cookie Dough changed ownership.
