Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Apr 02, 2013
Springfield Mayor Mike Houston’s administration will need city council permission to have more than 1,500 employees on the payroll. Aldermen voted 7-3 Tuesday to limit the number of employees at City Water, Light and Power to 640 and the rest of city government at 860, not counting temporary or seasonal positions, unless the council says it’s OK.
A previous attempt to pass a headcount cap in February failed by a vote of 5-5. The mayor voted “present,” killing the measure. The proposal has since gained the support of Ward 6 Ald. Cory Jobe and Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen. Voting “no” Tuesday were Ward 2 Ald. Gail Simpson, Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 4 Ald. Frank Lesko.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, who sponsored the ordinance, said it was important to get the headcount restrictions approved since the city council will soon consider tax and fee increases to pay for infrastructure improvements.
“I think the city council has sent an important message to the taxpayers: We’re going to try to keep our city government lean and operationally efficient,” McMenamin said.
Houston said he remains opposed to the proposal, pointing out that the size of the city’s workforce has been reduced by 100 since he took office nearly two years ago.
The overall headcount was 1,472 as of last week.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 