Saturday, Sep. 13, 2008

Kennewick to save $1.2M by freezing jobs

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- Kennewick is trying to save money by not filling some of its top jobs in the city.

City Manager Bob Hammond told the city council he has decided not to find replacements for the planning director, parks and facilities director, a police captain, project engineer and office assistant.

The city can keep about $1.2 million in salaries and benefits by putting a freeze on those positions for the next biennium, said Marie Mosley, director of support services.

Rick White resigned as planning director July 15 and got a job as planning chief for Pasco. His salary and benefits package was worth about $300,000 for the biennium, Mosley said.

Cindy Cole, who retired June 30 as director of facilities and parks, also was receiving about $300,000 in salary and benefits over the biennium.

Capt. Tim Harris recently resigned from a position valued at $275,000 for two years, including benefits.

Mosley said Tim Richmond retired April 15 from a project engineer job worth about $175,000, with benefits, in a two-year cycle, and the officer specialist job valued at $115,000 with benefits for the biennium has been vacant for some time, she said.

The resulting savings is worth about 1.5 percent of the city's $79 million biennial salary and benefits budget, Mosley said.

Hammond told the council he was shifting responsibilities for those positions to other city employees. He said he is pleased with how employees have taken on extra duties and understand the need to provide service for the public with fewer employees.