SEBASTIAN — The unions that represent employees of the City of Sebastian have been credited for their role in helping to balance the city’s $19.8 million budget and in keeping the property tax rate low.
City Manager Al Minner told the Sebastian City Council this week that both unions – the Public Employees Association and the one that represents the Sebastian police officers – have ratified their contracts with the city. The council is expected to review those contracts in October.
“There was a lot of reluctance doing it,” PEA representative Marty O’Brien said of passing the contract, explaining that the employees’ backs were up against the wall due to the economy.
“There’s a good group of employees scraping the bottom of the barrel,” O’Brien added.
Employees will again take a furlough day each month – equating to more than two weeks’ unpaid time off.
Staffing has been cut, spreading more work over fewer employees, he said.
“We have skeleton crews out there,” O’Brien said, reminding the Sebastian City Council that the employees are who make the council look good.
He asked the council to take care of the people who take care of them.
“They have sacrificed” over the last few years, City Councilman Richard Gillmor agreed, adding that when the economy and financial climate get better, he thinks the public employees would be due for “some goodies.”
Sebastian resident Damien Gilliams told the council that instead of thanking the unions for working together, the council should come up with ways to generate revenue without raising taxes or otherwise burdening staff.
He pointed to what he considers excess funds in the city’s reserves and suggested the council consider commercial recycling, finding grants, and bringing natural gas lines through town, among other ideas.
The Sebastian City Council unanimously approved the 3.3041 millage rate – 11.4 percent less than the roll back rate. The roll back rate is the millage rate the city could have set to bring in the same amount in tax dollars as the year before.
The council also unanimously approved the $19.8 million budget, the 6-year capital improvement program, and the city’s financial policies.