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North Las Vegas City Manager Timothy Hacker on efforts to close the city’s budget gap with union contract cuts.
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Business -- -- just lowering the debt ratings for North Las Vegas, Nevada.
The ratings agencies saying the city -- in fiscal distress and warning if it can't reduce some union payroll expenses another downgrade could come.
My next guest is trying to close -- 33 million dollar by the home.
And it's calling for a suspension of some union contracts and raises the help accomplish -- the man behind a plan -- city manager Tim Packard he joins us now.
Tim.
This -- -- -- news just out moments ago do you think that will help your efforts.
You know Charles we we definitely think it does it just continues to show that outside parties take -- a real hard in I think reasonable look at.
What's occurring with that the continued absorption of these salaries and benefit gross especially during a time of complete recession.
Let's talk a little bit about help people understand exactly what's going on here.
Other city obviously has major financial budget crisis and so you're going to troops firemen policemen people that.
Typically get a lot of support him answering your asking them to give up.
I don't know what salaries and pensions what are you asking them to give up.
Asking him to actually give a very reasonable concessions as far as growth on on salaries and benefits.
-- enjoy some of the highest wage packages and benefits.
In the nation.
Way above the median and insults were asking -- please.
And I just stay where your rat I'm June 30 of where your -- we want should be evident on July 1 and also please as we have to make some operational changes.
For efficiencies purposes don't don't fight song that we we need to to pull together to stay focused on providing good solid services for our constituents -- as there is speaking it's.
About how generous those numbers are they were eye popping numbers they were -- on generous to be quite frank with you I love my apartment in my policeman but.
As those so called up public servant those numbers are outrageous.
How -- this any negotiate deals like that how do you how do you guys it.
How does how does the management of the city.
Give out salaries and and make these sort of promises -- a first.
-- Southern Nevada was unique over the last decade southern Nevada had the fastest growth and of course North Las Vegas.
Was one of the fastest current if -- the fastest growing.
Community of its size in the nation and so you know frankly I think -- people just got caught up and all that success that fast growth.
In the -- maybe weren't as -- -- on on the effects in the lingering effects continuing to try to absorb those.
Salaries and wages as they continue to grow and so here we have to get our our our right back on the prize which is really providing good customer service and good.
A service to our constituents and and that means holding the line.
In really you know we gotta start to realign our our salaries with what's real.
Now apparently you're saying.
That you guys have some some right I guess it would be some sort of emergency right to bypass collective bargaining agreement contract.
And on the other side of -- -- is saying that's for like natural disasters.
Is it possible that there can be some sort of compromise to do you think ultimately to -- and maybe go through illegal route.
We hope there's compromise were you know we we are committed to is providing the state -- balanced budget by June 1 and so that's fast approaching.
That the component collective bargaining he is an RS to radiate.
Was established back in 1960 -- would have been told and I think -- the legislators at that point time understood.
But we're gonna set the ground rules for our collective bargaining -- public union collective bargaining.
And so we're also provide some safety belts in there and in the sections of the you know I'm not an attorney but the attorneys -- have evaluated it.
Say that that section of the law that safety -- you know it gives you know examples such yes it's not all inclusive list at the I don't think anybody.
Would fault them for just -- giving some examples that we believe that this fiscal emergency is -- we believe that.
For the last four years that the unions have acknowledged its real come back to the table don't know what's different.
And then I think that Fitch report just continues to hammer that home -- before let's go we've we've got less than a minute ago are you guys united within the city management are Democrats and Republicans both on the same page with us.
Well the nice thing about Citi management is of course were pointed but our our mayor council.
You know they're they're nonpartisan on that level but of course you have a variety of opinions as far as.
Conservative and in many more liberal opinions but I got to tell you.
Mayor council stand firm to do what's right to keep services flowing in in our community safe by at a tea unfortunately is that as not a unique situation in this country we -- -- the -- -- So you guys are ready when the next boom comes around thanks a lot them.
