Naperville cuts 49 more positions

Naperville has eliminated 49 positions - including 27 that were vacant - as part of an effort to reduce projected budget deficits, officials announced Friday.

City Manager Doug Krieger said employees who lost their jobs were told Thursday.

The staff reductions will save roughly $3.6 million annually, he said. When combined with the 43 positions eliminated last January, the city has reduced its work force by 10 percent at an annual savings of nearly $7 million.

Even with all that, Krieger said the city still has a $1 million hole in its budget that he's been directed to fill by April 2011. The city at one point had projected a $14.1 million budget deficit before implementing a series of cuts.

"The current plan is for me to identify further savings between now and ... April 2011," he said. "So I'm going to continue to monitor revenues and look at city structure and operations to see where more efficiencies can be gained."

It's unlikely those efficiencies will involve further layoffs, but Krieger didn't rule them out.

"At this point we have no plans in our back pocket as far as a round two goes," he said. "Our future actions will depend on how the economy fares and the status of our affected revenues. But there doesn't appear to be any relief in sight."

In determining appropriate personnel cuts, Krieger said, the primary objective was to minimize the impact on service to residents. More significant reductions were implemented in administrative departments with less impact on the public safety and front-line departments of police, fire and public works.

He did not provide a breakdown of where the cuts came, but said it's unlikely residents will see any obvious changes.

The restructuring and cuts will lead to shortening the hours at the city cashier desk, limiting hours of the police department front desk and, beginning in April, a "slightly reduced" police presence in downtown, he said.

Krieger admitted Thursday was a sad day at city hall as 22 employees received their notices but said Friday was a different story.

"We lost some really dedicated employees who have contributed a ton to the growth and success of this city and it was sad to see them go," he said. "But the mood today was much more positive and upbeat and looking forward to the future. We have to be. That's the only way to beat this thing."