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DEL.ICIO.USThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/30/08
Atlanta property taxes will be at their highest levels since 2002 if Mayor Shirley Franklin's plan to balance the budget is approved.
The other option, administration officials say, is to lay off more than 200 police officers and 90 firefighters and close six fire stations.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the property tax increase and Franklin's budget on June 2. Some council members said Thursday that Franklin's plan will be a tough sell.
"I don't want to give up on trying to fight a property tax increase, which means I'm going to have to go through the budget and find $40 million of things to cut," Councilman Howard Shook, chair of the council's finance/executive committee, told reporters Thursday.
Councilwoman Anne Fauver, whose district includes Midtown, said in a statement Thursday "I strongly oppose any property tax increase."
Franklin on Wednesday submitted her proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. City officials say Atlanta faces a $140 million shortfall. The mayor's budget balancing plan includes laying off 441 employees, increasing some processing fees, making reforms to some poor financial practices and raising property taxes to collect $40 million.
If Franklin's plan is approved, Chief Financial Officer Janice Davis suggested the city's property tax rate would rise by 1.7 mills. City officials said they are waiting on information from Fulton County tax appraisers before they can make an official estimate.
Franklin told council members during a budget hearing Thursday she is unwilling to eliminate the police and fire positions.
"I believe public safety is the top priority of city government," the mayor said.
Many of the layoffs were done Thursday. They'll continue through Monday.
Most Atlanta employees got the word about who stays and who goes Thursday morning. Then the less fortunate got their walking papers.
Thursday afternoon, Dana Jenkins, who works in the mayor's communications office, arrived at the old city council chambers to get the details of her dismissal.
"I was hoping that I wouldn't be one of the people," Jenkins told reporters, tears welling in her eyes, but keeping her composure. "They just told us to come to this meeting, we were getting laid off. It's a sad day."
In the meetings, which were closed to reporters, city officials explained benefits to dismissed members of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Law and Finance departments. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs workers met at City Hall East.
The city has sought to ease the transition as much as possible, given the blunt force of it: only two weeks pays, and very short notice in an iffy economy. They planned a job fair for some employees and may hire some workers in city departments exempt from the layoffs.
Carla Sutton, a city behavioral health specialist, met with seven members of the city law department Thursday afternoon, explaining to them the city will extent counseling, career and psychological, to the dismissed workers for no charge.
"We're not sure for how long," said Sutton. "But as long as it's needed. We know such counseling is expensive, and people are going to be depressed, and they will need assistance, hopefully until they can get a job."
The city said it was shuttering its employee shuttle service Friday. Some drivers don't yet know their fate, but they were trying to remain hopeful.
"All I know is that we've got to finish strong, and stay positive, it's about fulfilling a need," said city shuttle drive Mike Crews.
In recent days speculation has been rampant about the criteria for dismissing workers. Sutton said he knew of at least one worker with 27 years service who lost his job.
"These layoffs are not necessarily based on the employees, and their performance," she said. "It's based on the need for city services."
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More on ajc.com
- Tax foes turn out at hearing
- Atlantans suggest other ways to balance city budget
- Some Atlanta employees say their layoffs are unfair
- Atlanta workers say revenge prompted layoffs
- Atlanta city leaders get scolded at public hearings
- Panel tries to cut back Atlanta pipe plans
- Panel tries to cut back pipe plans
- Fiscal meltdown a blot on Franklin's tough tenure
- More layoffs as Atlanta's budget pain spreads
- Atlanta to finish laying off employees Monday
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Comments
By In-the-System
May 8, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
The rampid incompetancy amoungst some city workers is due mainly to the fact that for many many years worthless, uneducated friends and family were given priority and hired for jobs over ambitious, moving and shaking, educated outsiders. We all know there can be no growth without change. Maybe it's time we start holding The City's Human Resources Dept accountable for the incompetancy that thrives on every level within this government. The City of Atlanta's hiring system needs to be audited, investigated and reorganized and revamped. If HR was doing their job, Supervisors and Manager's would not have the power and authority to hire incompetant-worthless friends and family. ATLANTA DESERVES BETTER !!
By rastus
May 6, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
a month ago mayor franklin announced that commercial properties would be reassessed to bring them into line with their true values. residential properties are already assessed at or above their true values(replacement cost of structure is lower than assessed value of structure). now all we hear about is a rate increase. who does the rate increase apply to? how much additional revenue will the commercial reassessments contribute? are commercial reassessments actually going to happen? how much will be added to the revenue stream when development incentive property tax waivers expire? why are reporters not digging up the answers to these questions? they all need firing. reporters, franklin administration, and 17 layers of management in the water department need to go.
By Fire Shirley Franklin
May 5, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
It was Shirley Franklin and incompetent city employees that got the city in the position it is. Do you really expect me to feel sorry for any of that crowd for losing their jobs? Lacking any accountability as to who did and who did not contribute to the situation, fire them all and start over from scratch. Especially fire the chief incompetent, Shirley Franklin who fiddled while Rome burned with feel good pork projects (like street cars on Peachtree St., a bike trail on the old rail lines and self cleaning toilets costing over $100,000 each) while the city went broke and the infrastructure crumbled. Shame on all the city employees that thought that city credit cards (that the citizens have to pay for) were their ticket to the good life and free nail jobs. Shame on all the employees caught in various fraud and corruption scams in the various city departments. Shame on you city employees and good riddance. WE NEED CLARK HOWARD FOR MAYOR
By The City Is Corrupt
May 4, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this
What happened to the public works employees was a GREAT INJUSTICE.Keep your heads up,and stay focused. I have all you in my prayers. God Bless
By The City Is Corrupt
May 4, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
What happenend to public work employees was a GREAT INJUSTICE.Keep your heads up, and be with your Family. Im keeping all of you in my prayers. God Bless
By The Snitch
May 4, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
Use to work for the city. Glad I'm gone. Incompetence abounds there, they thrive off of inefficiency. Money is wasted at every turn. People who are plugged in are always making plays for each other. People hold management positions at high salaries just because. I saw so much money wasted while I was there it's not funny. Auditors need to turn this thing inside out like a sock, go through this thing with a fine tooth comb in all departments and they will see clearly what's been going on and just how much of a train wreck this thing really is.
By ilb
May 4, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
this isnt just an atlanta prob...the prob is career politicians trying to be all things to everyone...the end result is taxes increasing...all at a time of recession. Makes no sense...atlantans, youre getting the gov't you deserve
By CityEmployee
May 3, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
City Officials really need to take a good look at what is really going on through-out many departments in within the City of Atlanta. This occurs in locations throughout. Many employees with quite a number of years on have learned to manipulate the system. These deadbeats are usually the last to be considered in a RIF because of their senority. They come to work to rest, socialize and keep up with the latest gossip. In many departments, you'll find more than adequet staff but very little work is getting done. Supervisors are intimated by these people. They allow this non-productive, unacceptable performance to go on. Deadbeat city workers are like a cancer. The city needs to find a way to weed them so the city can move forward.
By CityEmployee
May 3, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
City Officials really need to take a good look at what is really going on through-out many departments in within the City of Atlanta. This occurs in locations throughout. Many employees with quite a number of years on have learned to manipulate the system. These deadbeats are usually the last to be considered in a RIF because of their senority. They come to work to rest, socialize and keep up with the latest gossip. In many departments, you'll find more than adequet staff but very little work is getting done. Supervisors are intimated by these people. They allow this non-productive, unacceptable performance to go on. Deadbeat city workers are like a cancer. The city needs to find a way to weed them so the city can move forward.
By CityEmployee
May 3, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
City Officials really need to take a good look at what is really going on through-out many departments in within the City of Atlanta. This occurs in locations throughout. Many employees with quite a number of years on have learned to manipulate the system. These deadbeats are usually the last to be considered in a RIF because of their senority. They come to work to rest, socialize and keep up with the latest gossip. In many departments, you'll find more than adequet staff but very little work is getting done. Supervisors are intimated by these people. They allow this non-productive, unacceptable performance to go on. Deadbeat city workers are like a cancer. The city needs to find a way to weed them so the city can move forward.
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