Finch thanks unions for givebacks

By Bill Cummings, ConnPost Staff writer
Updated: 03/20/2009 09:32:41 PM EDT

Finch thanks unions for givebacks - Topix

BRIDGEPORT -- Mayor Bill Finch on Friday took the unusual step of thanking city unions for agreeing to give back millions of dollars to help close a projected $20 million budget deficit for 2008-09.

"It's our intent to make sure the public understands that it's their sacrifice and hard work that's going to balance the budget," Finch said during a brief event at the Fire Department's headquarters on Congress Street.

As the mayor spoke, a dozen or so union leaders surrounded him. They didn't offer public comments, but most seemed to appreciate his sentiment.

"We have to stick together through thick and thin," said Frank Cuccaro, president of the police union.

For most of the workers, helping Finch meant forgoing raises this year and next year, and taking week-long or 10-day furloughs without taking any pay this year.

Most of the unions will collect raises in the third and fourth years of newly negotiated contracts.

Some unions still suffered layoffs as the mayor cut 73 workers and eliminated or refused to fill another 149 positions. The union concessions saved $4.9 million.

Other employee savings are being applied to the deficit as well, including $1.4 million from trimming department budgets, $1.1 million by deferring firefighter holidays and $824,000 from supervisor concessions.

Robert Whitbread, president of the firefighter's union, said his members realized the city is suffering and were willing to help out. Firefighters agreed to bank holiday weeks and personal days for the next year in exchange for a guarantee that no one would be laid off. Those weeks can be reclaimed when they retire.

"We knew the alternative was that something was going to happen. But this works for us. There was only a small vote against it," Whitbread said.

Finch is still waiting for about $6 million in savings he requested from the Board of Education, which so far has agreed to contribute only about $1.5 million.

The mayor said he continues to talk with school officials and remains "optimistic," but administration sources said the mayor is already considering reducing school funding next year by a similar amount as a way of extracting the funds.

Even without more school savings this year, the city's deficit, attributed by officials largely to the crumbling national economy, is expected to be covered by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The gap now stands at about $5 million, and the city can take a few million dollars from its meager $9 million fund balance to finish balancing the $492 million combined school and city budget.