Staff, benefits key issues in Long Beach

A staffing analysis that shows Long Beach has hired too many people and a proposal to require managers and elected officials to pay for their health benefits will be key pieces of Tuesday night's budget presentation, officials in the cash-strapped city said.

The City Council is also scheduled during its meeting to vote on a proposal to pierce the state-mandated tax cap -- city officials have said a significant tax increase will be necessary for the city to make budget because of a projected $10.25 million budget deficit this fiscal year.

City Manager Jack Schnirman said the staffing analysis, which shows the city's employment levels grew from 1,282 in 2004 to 1,624 last year, will illustrate Long Beach's need to cut personnel costs. The city needs $7 million in personnel savings to close the budget gap, and is negotiating with its unions about givebacks, he said.

"There was a lot of hiring in the last year or two, and it's unsustainable," said Schnirman, who was hired in January by the new Democratic-controlled council. "Personnel costs are one of the biggest contributors to the city's deficit."

The moves come as cash-poor Long Beach is planning a 4.1 percent tax levy increase, plus a temporary 11.9 percent increase each year for three years to address the deficit. That would raise Long Beach taxes next year by about $430, to $2,904, for the owner of an average home in the city, officials have said.

The budget could legally be approved Tuesday night, but is more likely to be put to a vote on May 22, Schirman said. A public hearing on the budget will also be held Tuesday night.

The city's recent staffing analysis, which will be presented publicly Tuesday, shows that Long Beach's staffing has increased more than 20 percent since 2005 despite the city's 6.2 percent loss in population since 2000. The city is negotiating with its three public unions to get a handle on personnel costs, Schnirman said.

Kenny Apple, president of the city police union, said his unit is negotiating in good faith but also is looking to "protect our members."

Apple added: "We have been at the table, we have been talking, we have been involved in healthy discussions to this point."

The proposal to require city council members and managers to pay toward their health benefits will likely save the city $40,000 per year if approved, officials said. But the real savings will occur if the city is able to get concessions from the union, said Fran Adelson, the city council president.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, located at 1 W. Chester St., and is open to the public.