PROVIDENCE -- The city is considering layoffs in the police and fire departments, as well as other changes to save money in the 2003-'04 budget.
To stop layoffs, the police union and police chief are proposing their own plan for savings, such as removing injured police officers from the payroll.
John C. Simmons, the city's acting director of administration, wouldn't discuss the proposed budgets in detail. The city's budget will be finalized this week, before Mayor David N. Cicilline presents it to the City Council on Thursday.
The city is facing a deep gap of about $59 million between projected revenues and the expenditures for the 2003-'04 city budget.
Salaries are a driving force. Simmons said he is looking at work force reductions in the police and fire departments, involving employees of all ranks. Other possibilities, still undecided, include closing fire stations, changes in health care, and reorganizing the departments.
The 2002-'03 budget for the Police Department is $37,378,509; the Fire Department's budget for 2002-'03 is $35,686,170. Simmons wouldn't say how much the police and fire departments' budgets were allowed to increase.
"Everything is still fluid, still being examined as we get a feel for the revenue flow, as well," Simmons said.
To build revenue, the city is aggressively pursuing payments for ambulance calls and collecting bids for a contract to repair the police fleet, Simmons said. The city has reduced cell-phone and pager usage by employees by 20 to 25 percent.
During budget talks with the police and fire chiefs, Simmons has discussed staffing levels and alternative ways of performing services. They meet early this week to finalize the budget.
"We're looking at the broader impact, how can we provide the services we want to provide," Simmons said. "Most departments have been asked to come back and say, 'Here's a different way to approach it.' "
As for whether there will definitely be layoffs of police officers or firefighters, Simmons replied simply: "Everything is under review."
The School Department is facing about 150 job cuts as part of a proposal to close a $28.3-million revenue gap in its proposed budget of $299,345,468. The School Board has sent out more than 600 layoff notices telling teachers and other employees that they may not be rehired this fall. The board announces its changes to the budget tomorrow night.
Determined to prevent layoffs, the police union has brought forward its own proposal that it says could save $3 million.
"We realize the city's in tough shape. We're willing to help," said Patrolman Michael M. Marcoccio, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3. While he wouldn't discuss the details, Marcocciosaid the plan would give the administration leeway to remove injured employees from the payrolls. Some have been out injured for long periods of time and haven't or can't return to their old jobs, he said.
Police Chief Dean Esserman said he supports the plan. Both he and Marcoccio say they are opposed to layoffs.
The budget crunch comes when the department is undergoing a major restructuring. Starting in June, officers will be assigned to substations in each of the districts, running them almost like mini police departments. This is a community policing concept meant to put more officers in the neighborhoods.
To save money, the lieutenants must find donated office space and furniture in their districts. Esserman said he intends to move more officers out of specialized units and into patrol.
"The mayor made it clear to me that these are tough times, and the Police Department has to work with the budget it's given," Esserman said.
There are 498 officers and another 40 recruits due for the recently delayed police academy. Marcoccio said that isn't enough officers.
"Everyone is excited about the redistricting," Marcoccio said, "but new policing requires police officers. . . . If we go with fewer people, it's not going to work."
The president of the firefighters union and the fire chief were equally quiet about the department's proposed budget.
Firefighter David Peters, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 799, wouldn't disclose the union's talks with Simmons.
The firefighters have been working without a contract since July 2001, the only major union in the city that doesn't have a contract. Contract talks are now headed for binding arbitration.
The contract holds a minimum-staffing clause, which requires 92 to 95 firefighters per shift, Peters said. There isn't a no-layoff clause.
Rattigan also wouldn't discuss the budget talks. "Just like every other department, we've been asked to restructure and reorganize," he said, but wouldn't say what is being proposed.
