SHA budget proposal retains some resident
managers, 20 positions eliminated
Largest buildings will retain full time
managers
SEATTLE—June 3, 2003—Responding
to requests from residents in low-income high-rise buildings across
the city, the Seattle Housing Authority has trimmed its original
proposal for the elimination of resident manager positions in its
public housing and Section 8 New Construction high-rises.
These changes, along with other budget cuts, will
make up the FY 2004 draft budget that will be presented for action
to the SHA Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 16.
Instead of eliminating all of the resident managers,
SHA will lay off about half (20) of them. The remaining resident
managers will be assigned to one or more buildings. Jefferson
Terrace, Denny Terrace and Center Park will continue to have full
time resident managers, as will the Section 8 New Construction
building, Bayview Tower. All other buildings will share resident
managers among three buildings, except for the four buildings on
Queen Anne Hill (West Town View, Queen Anne Heights, Center West and
Olympic West). These four buildings will share one resident manager.
Assistant resident managers will continue to be
responsible for cleaning in the common areas. Supervisory management
functions for public housing will be consolidated, reducing the
number of Property Managers for this portfolio. In addition, the
labor budget for public housing will be reduced by $150,000, which
may result in slower response times for non-emergency repairs.
Other changes will include consolidating all
resident services functions that were previously in Development
within Housing Operations. In total, changes in the Housing
Operations department will result in savings of $980,000.
Other modifications to the original budget proposal
include the following: Both cost of living adjustments and merit
raises for all management staff will be eliminated for this year,
and SHA will negotiate for the same with bargaining units. A
compensation study will be undertaken to determine the comparability
of SHA salaries to the market. Estimated savings: $450,000
-
Management staff, including Harry Thomas and those who report
directly to him, have volunteered to take leave without pay to
provide at least $20,000 of savings to the agency.
-
SHA is proposing to close its offices and facilities for one
unpaid holiday but still must negotiate this with the bargaining
units. The specific day, if approved, will be determined with
staff input. Estimated savings: $75,000.
-
Additional staff will be offered the opportunity to take leave
without pay, with supervisor approval.
The PorchLight, Finance, and Development departments
will experience reductions in staff. The new proposal also
anticipates reducing hours at PorchLight and closing the Section 8
waiting list as of June 30, 2003.
The estimate of savings identified as part of the draft budget is
summarized in the chart below. A total of 35 positions will be
eliminated. An additional $450,000 from Capital funds will be used
to balance the Public Housing Operating Budget.
Summary of Revenue Shortfalls and
Seattle Housing
Authority Budget Needs
|
Action |
Net Savings |
|
Eliminate COLA and merit increases.
Perform a compensation study. Leave without pay for some staff. |
$545,000 |
|
Housing Operations - eliminate some
live-in managers and make other structural changes. Net reduction of
22 positions. |
980,000 |
|
Executive Office - Reduce consulting
services and travel. |
159,000 |
|
Human Resources - Reduce training,
safety and travel. |
104,000 |
|
PorchLight - Complete reorganization
and staff reductions. Reduce office hours. Eliminate 18.5 positions
and add 13.5 positions. Net reduction of 5. |
206,000 |
|
Finance and Administration - Reduce
travel, training and consulting. Staff reductions in IT, payroll and
accounting. Net reduction of 4 positions. |
296,000 |
|
Development - Restructure to move some
positions into Housing Operations and eliminate 4 positions. |
360,000 |
|
Total Savings |
2,650,000 |
|
|
|
|
Shortfall in Public
Housing budget |
$1,300,000 |
|
Shortfall in Capital
Grant |
600,000 |
|
Loss of Drug
Elimination Grant funding |
1,500,000 |
|
Estimated rent revenue loss |
700,000 |
|
Total loss in revenues
in FY2004 |
$4,100,000 |
| |
|
Budget savings
required |
$2,500,000 |
|
Discontinuation of
some DEG contracts |
$1,000,000 |
|
Capital Grant funds used to balance
Public Housing Operating Budget |
$450,000 |
|
Approximate decrease
in SHA expense budget |
$4,100,000 |
|
