KS City Relents on Public Safety Pay Cuts after Outcry

Topeka officials are pulling back on a proposal to cut pay for city employees by 3 percent after outcry from groups including the city's police and firefighter unions.

By India Yarborough

Source The Topeka Capital-Journal, Kan.

April 25, 2020

3 min read

A Topeka firefighter hard at work during vehicle extrication training in March 2020.

Following public opposition from local union groups, the City of Topeka has opted to postpone a 3% pay cut for city employees.

The city announced in a news release Friday that it will reconsider a pay cut in June, once sales tax receipts for March and April become available. Until then, the city plans to explore alternative cost-saving measures and assures that no across-the-board wage reductions will be effective in the next 60 days.

"I am looking at all possible options to reduce spending and offset revenue losses," said city manager Brent Trout. "I am continuing to work with the governing body and staff to find the best way to balance the budget while keeping the impact to services and staff at a minimum."

Trout and Topeka's mayor and city council previously announced they will be taking a 6% salary reduction beginning May 2.

Those pay cuts and potential cost-saving measures are in response to an expected decrease in the city's revenue this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the city's news release Friday, city staff have identified about $3.2 million of operational changes in the city's general operating budget that will be implemented for 2020. The city also expects to dip into at least $2 million of reserve funds to offset revenue losses.

The city announced a potential 3% pay cut on April 10 as another way to reduce spending. However, eight local unions representing city workers — including the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 and the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 83 — rejected the pay cut on Wednesday, saying the city failed to explore other options and citing a lack of communication between the city and the unions.

In response to the city's postponement of the 3% cut, Matthew Bergmann, the Frieden & Forbes attorney representing the unions, said the groups welcome further discussion about ways to save the city money.

"The unions welcome discussions with city administration and the governing body on how best to resolve this issue," Bergmann said on behalf of the unions. "We appreciate the efforts of our members, city leaders and the Topeka community during this difficult time."

The city's news release Friday states that after a review of sales tax receipts and revenue collections in June, Topeka staff and city council will determine whether salary reductions or other decisions that may impact personnel will need to be implemented to balance the budget by the end of the year.

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