Henderson cuts 7 positions in reorganization

Seven positions are being eliminated because of reorganization within the city of Henderson.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday for changes proposed by City Manager Jacob Snow.

As a result, the Community Development Department, the Neighborhood Services Division, and the Building and Fire Safety Division will merge to create a new Community Development and Services Department.

When he was appointed in April, Snow said, the council asked him to start looking at ways to make the city more efficient.

As part of that effort, he researched similarly sized cities in the Western United States.

"Our peer cities seemed to have fewer departments than what we have," Snow said last week.

He said he started looking at opportunities for consolidation.

In July, the council approved his plan to consolidate public affairs responsibilities in the following areas:

■ Cultural arts and tourism.

■ Economic development and redevelopment.

■ Communication.

■ Intergovernmental relations.

City officials have been making cuts in hopes of reducing what was projected to be a $13.5 million deficit for this fiscal year.

With the cuts approved Tuesday, Budget Manager Jill Lynch said that deficit projection has been reduced to $5.8 million.

All employee groups also have made concessions.

Snow said Henderson cannot meet its goal of being a "premier city" without having a balanced budget.

"I think without a balanced budget, the talk about being premier is just that," he said.

Changes the City Council approved Tuesday will save the city about $750,000 a year.

Stephanie Garcia-Vause, community development director, will be director of the newly created Community Development and Services Department and will continue to receive her annual salary of $168,478.

The position of Terri Barber, intergovernmental affairs director, was one of the seven eliminated. She was paid about $152,000 a year.

Fred Horvath, human resources director, said two people who lost their jobs have decided to retire.

Horvath said five others, including Barber, are deciding whether to leave or take another job in the city.

Horvath said 309 Henderson employees have taken advantage of the city's voluntary employee severance program since city officials first offered it in late 2008. That is when the economic downturn caused unprecedented declines in sales and property tax revenue for the city.

He said the program has saved the city more than $39 million in salary and benefits costs.

City spokesman Bud Cranor said Henderson had 1,944 employees at the end of 2008. The city now has 1,805 employees.

In June, the City Council voted to cut 32 positions within a year in the Public Works Department because of reduced activity.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.