EVERETT, AUG. 15: The Everett city council heard a briefing of a potential ordinance establishing a voluntary separation incentive for city employees to help address the city’s projected $12.6 million deficit for 2025.
Lori Cummings, Senior Executive Director of the Mayor’s office said the goal moving forward is to look for sustainable reductions within the city’s budget. The deficit is expected to rise to $16.8 million in 2026, and $35.4 million in 2030, Cummings said.
The purpose of the incentive program is “to reduce compensation costs as well as to facilitate redeployment, reorganization, and other efforts to make more efficient and effective use of the city’s limited resources.”
Kandy Bartlett, Labor Administrative Services Director said this program applies to city employees working in administration, communications, economic development, emergency management, fire, library, parks and police.
According to the proposed ordinance, employees approved for the voluntary separation will receive six months of city-paid COBRA medical benefits and a one-time severance payment equal to four months’ base salary.
Councilmembers Judy Tuohy, Paula Ryne, and Mary Fosse called for a more strategic plan to address layoffs.
“I would hate to see employees who have spent a lot of time with the city, who have a lot of institutional knowledge, go,” Tuohy said.
The mayor will need to submit her budget message and proposal by late October of this year.
The council will vote on the ordinance on Aug. 28.
Council comments:
Last week, the council made a motion to hire an independent budget analyst consultant after Proposition 1 failed.
Fosse clarified that there will be a cap on the expenses dedicated for the position.
“Council does not have their own staff and so this is something that we are looking at to be $10,000 or less, we are not going past it. That is a tiny portion of services and things the city pays for… this is a very small and part-time role to help support council,” Fosse said.
The council president Don Schwab will announce updates about the budget at the next council meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 21.
Everett Chamber of Commerce:
The council heard the second reading about reestablishing an Everett Chamber of Commerce. They were first briefed in June by the community development department which is asking for $600,000 of ARPA, commonly known as Covid Relief funds.
In the ordinance it reads “future Chamber will support and attract business, providing essential services such as networking events, business education and tailored support and advocacy for small businesses.”
