Voluntary Severance Plan Approved City Hopes To Save Money By Cutting Employee Numbers

Spokane City Hall may get a little leaner during the next few months.

The City Council unanimously approved Monday night a request from City Manager Bill Pupo to reinstate a voluntary severance program aimed at reducing the number of employees.

In 1995, then City Manager Roger Crum proposed the severance program to reduce spending. Seventy jobs were cut before the plan was suspended last year.

Under the program, employees have the option of quitting in return for severance pay, with the amount they receive dependent on the number of years they have worked for the city.

To qualify, employees must prove to their department heads and Pupo that their jobs could be divided among other workers or be done away with altogether.

Employees at the top pay scale also can opt for severance pay if they can prove a substantial savings to taxpayers by replacing themselves with entry-level workers.

The voluntary severance program will expire at the end of the year.

Also Monday, the council voted 4-1 to spend an additional $10,380 on the Coopers & Lybrand feasibility study of the River Park Square redevelopment project.

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers dissented. Councilmen Orville Barnes and Mike Brewer were absent.

The San Francisco accounting firm has had to do more work than expected on the $70,000 study. River Park Square developers plan to reimburse the city for the added cost.

, DataTimes