Staunton freezes city-government hiring to combat higher fuel, energy costs
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Rising energy costs are forcing the budget hand of Staunton city manager Steve Owen, who announced this morning that he has implemented a hiring freeze as a first step toward offsetting the skyrocketing costs of fuel and electricity.
“As with any city, our biggest expenditures are in the area of personnel, so we really have to hold down costs there to achieve the savings we need,” said Owen, whose hiring freeze will begin immediately and is expected to last a minimum of 120 days.
The city government will also monitor overtime costs to try to minimize them in the interim period.
City Council had built into its 2008-2009 fiscal-year budget increases in expenditures for fuel and electricity, “but our latest projections show that costs could rise faster and further than anyone expected,” Owen said.
“We have to be prepared and take the steps necessary to insure that the most vital city services continue in the face of these higher costs,” Owen said.
Other measures taken by the city to combat the higher costs of fuel and energy include reducing lighting in public buildings, turning up thermostats in office buildings for the summer, and beginning efforts to convert about a dozen traffic lights to flash-only mode at night.
Related posts:
- Energy prices driving government administrators to consider four-day work weeks Story by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net The Waynesboro school system is among a growing number of school systems and city and county governments nationwide embracing a...
- EMU drops tennis, cites increased fuel costs in decision Story by Chris Graham High gasoline prices are hitting everybody where it hurts – from people cutting back on vacations to businesses cutting back on...
- Staunton names government employee of year Item by Chris Graham A Staunton sheriff’s deputy has been named the city government’s employee of the year for 2007. Darrell W. Carter Jr., a...
- Working to decrease America’s dependence on foreign energy Column by Bob Goodlatte Each week, folks across the Sixth District and the nation are confronted with the rising cost of energy, from the gas...
- The need for a comprehensive energy policy Column by Bob Goodlatte Energy is vital to every sector of the U.S. economy, including homes, small businesses and industries. Energy powers computers, appliances, technology...
