THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY
PHIL BREDESEN, MAYOR
Subject: Hiring/Promotion Freeze and Cost Savings Directive to achieve a 5% saving in the non-salary portion of departmental budgets
WHEREAS, the decline in tourism and the devastating tornadoes in 1998 have resulted in a smaller increase in the amount of tax revenues collected by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County than originally budgeted; and
WHEREAS, there has also been a decrease in the amount of growth of sales tax revenue that was not anticipated when revenues were projected for the Fiscal Year 1999 budget for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, to avoid the possibility of deficit operations or the potential of having to impound funds to meet actual expenditures it is prudent and necessary to institute cost saving measures government-wide.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Philip Bredesen, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby direct and order that:
1. Hiring/promotion freeze
Pursuant to Section 5.03 of the Metropolitan Charter, I am hereby imposing a freeze on filling positions by new hire and promotions for the remainder of the 1998-1999 budget year. The freeze shall apply to all positions other than those specifically enumerated below:
a. positions becoming vacant that are determined by the Director of Personnel to be essential;
b. positions becoming vacant in the offices of Elected Officials. However, I hereby request that Elected Officials cooperate fully with the cost saving measure by not filling positions becoming vacant;
c. positions becoming vacant at the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Nashville Electric Service, the Airport Authority, the Metropolitan Board of Public Education, the Davidson County Election Commission, the Fair Board, the Davidson County Farmers Market Commission, the Nashville Arena, the Metropolitan Convention Center Commission, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Department of Water and Sewerage Services and the Office of the Medical Examiner.
d. positions becoming vacant that are funded by state or federal grant funds upon a demonstration by the department, to the satisfaction of the Director of Personnel, that the particular position is funded through a state or federal grant.
2. Cost Savings Directive
Pursuant to Section 5.03 of the Metropolitan Charter 1, hereby, further direct that all departments, agencies, commissions and boards of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County take whatever measures are necessary to realize savings of 5 % in their non-salary departmental budget for Fiscal Year 1999.
a. The Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Nashville Electric Service, the Airport Authority, the Metropolitan Board of Public Education, the Davidson County Election Commission, the Fair Board, the Davidson County Farmers Market Commission, the Metropolitan Arena, the Metropolitan Convention Center Commission, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Department of Water and Sewerage Services and the Office of the Medical Examiner are excluded from this directive;
b. The Metropolitan Action Commission, the Nashville Career Advancement Center and the Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital are hereby directed to take measures necessary to achieve a 5% saving in the portion of the appropriation to those agencies from the General Fund;
c. I am further requesting that Elected Officials cooperate fully with this cost saving measure by realizing a 5% saving in the portion of their non-salary budget that is appropriated from the General Fund.
3. During the period of the hiring freeze, all requests to fill positions by new hire and all requests for promotions shall be approved by the Director of Personnel. However, the Director of Personnel may seek recommendations from the Personnel Review Committee or other officials as to whether a vacant position should be filled based on the exceptions enumerated in Section 1, and to this extent Executive Order 92-01 is so modified.
Ordered this 17th day of September 1998.
Philip Bredesen
Mayor