Carol Stream looks to cut costs, avoid layoffs

The Village of Carol Stream soon will offer its employees incentives to leave their positions voluntarily in an effort to cut personnel costs.

The village board on Monday approved offering the voluntary separation plan to all workers, essentially hoping to avoid cost-cutting measures that could eventually include layoffs.

"We are striving to find ways to cut costs without having to lay anybody off," Village President Frank Saverino said after the meeting.

Employees will have from Jan. 15-Feb. 21 to apply for the program. If approved, they will have until April 15 to choose a final day, which must come before June 30.

Saverino stressed the decision is completely up to the employee. If they choose to participate, they will receive $1,500 for each full year of employment. Employees would then choose from several payout options, such as a lump sum or a payment into their retirement fund.

The village has already implemented some personnel-related cost cutting. Nine positions vacated in 2009 were not filled and have been recommended for elimination.

"We have squeezed this tomato as much as we could," Saverino said. "We are in waters we have never swam in before."

Employee Relations Director Caryl Rebholz said she researched area communities with similar programs before making the recommendation Monday.

"It's an ongoing process to reduce expenditures," she said.

Officials will evaluate vacated positions to see if they can be eliminated, filled with other personnel or filled at reduced hours or pay.

Rebholz acknowledged that there was no way of knowing exactly how many positions would be affected or how much money would be saved until the process is complete.

Village Manager Joe Breinig said that very early projections point to another deficit in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.