Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 29, 2006 CAIRO WAR RESUMES...

...not that there was ever any truce. Latest fighting results in 13 casualties, with more promised. Both sides engage in the blame game.

From the Southeast Missourian...

Cairo mayor says council to blame for job cuts

RUDI KELLER ~ Southeast Missourian

CAIRO, Ill. -- The city of Cairo laid off 13 part-time employees Monday and plans to terminate the employment of another eight or nine city workers in a month to save money, Mayor Paul Farris said. Farris announced the need for layoffs in a news release issued Monday. The cuts come from a city work force of 79 full- and part-time employees and include the fire and police departments.

The first round of 13 layoffs, city attorney Patrick Cox said, include three police officers and two firefighters. The exact mix in the second round hasn't been decided, he said.

In the release, Farris blamed city council members for the job losses, accusing the six members of shirking their duty to the city by failing last week to attend regular and special meetings. Too few council members attended last Tuesday's regular meeting or a special meeting Friday to conduct business.

The agendas for those meetings included discussions of the city's debt and potential sale of city assets. In an interview, Farris said he has repeatedly urged the council to approve selling Riverlore, an historic mansion purchased in 1999 with bond debt for $250,000.

The council, Farris said, has "ignored the need for us to rid ourselves of unneeded luxuries to preserve the work force."

The debt for Riverlore and other properties now exceeds $300,000.

Another pressing financial matter that prompted the layoffs, Farris said, is the city's loss in an arbitration hearing for three police employees fired over the suicide of Demetrius Flowers in a police holding cell in December 2005. The employees, two officers and a dispatcher, were re-instated with back pay and benefits when they challenged Farris's decision to fire them for violations of department policies.

Financial woes have been a constant theme for the city and it has grown worse under Farris' term, which began in May 2003. Shortly before Farris won election, the city settled a legal battle by giving up a major revenue source worth nearly $300,000 annually -- speeding tickets on Interstate 57.

The looming debt payments for Riverlore have been known for years and shouldn't have forced layoffs, Councilman Joey Thurston said Monday. He accused Farris of ignoring council directives to stop hiring new employees and to seek ways to cut costs.

"We have nothing to say about hiring. We have nothing to say about firing. We have nothing to say about spending," he said.

Selling Riverlore would only rid the city of the debt payments and do nothing to prevent layoffs, he said.

From the WSIL TV Channel 3 website...

Cairo city employees face lay-offs

BY: Jackie McPherson

CAIRO, Ill -- Cairo's mayor made an announcement Monday morning that 13 part-time workers are being let go. He blames a financial crisis plaguing Cairo.

According to city attorney Patrick Cox, Cairo simply doesn't have the funds to pay all 79 of its employees.

"There's approximately $400,000 difference between the revenues we're generating and the expenses."

It's a problem that can't be resolved, Cox says, as long as Cairo's mayor and city council continue to butt heads.

"The city's employees are the ones who are directly affected by this non-business, non-government that's occurring here."

Today, 13 part-time workers are feeling those affects. Most worked for city hall, but three police department employees also got the news.

The Cairo Fire Department will lose 2 of its part-time employees. But it may lose more in a second wave of lay-offs expected to come in the next 30 days.

"I would anticipate between eight and 10 will be affected - and these are full-time employees."

Cox says workers understood why they had to be let go, but that's not what union representive John Price says. He represents Cairo's full-time city employees.

"They all were caught by surprise. I understand that the mayor and the city council are at odds, but don't take it out on the employees," said Price.

Price says the government should be making cuts elsewhere. He has a suggestion where to start.

"Maybe the mayor and the city attorney should look at taking a cut in their pay," said Price.

Patrick Cox says the city will save about $180,000 from the two rounds of lay-offs enough so that he says a third wave of letting employees go isn't necessary.

He adds public safety will not be compromised because of the jobs lost.

And finally this blurb from the WPSD TV Channel 6 website...

IL: City of Cairo Employees Being Laid Off

Staff Report

The economic news out of Cairo is not good. Mayor Paul Farris says it's a sad day for Alexander County. Monday morning, several City of Cairo employees were notified they're being laid off. Farris says the decision stems from the city's "financial crisis."