TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka officials have announced plans to postpone a 3% pay reduction for all city staff to deal with plummeting city tax revenues in the wake of measures to slow the COVID-19 outbreak.
The city said in a news release Friday that pay cuts will be reconsidered in June when actual sales tax receipts for March and April will be available.
However, the city’s governing body and City Manager Brent Trout are proceeding with a 6% salary reduction. That temporary cut begins with the pay period that starts May 2.
The announcement that the other cuts are hold came after an attorney representing the unions for the city’s police officers and firefighters said in a letter Wednesday to Trout that the unions would not accept the cuts. The unions suggested several alternative measures for the city to consider before pushing a pay cut on first responders. Those measures included using the city’s general reserve fund and relying on upcoming police and firefighter retirements for cost-savings.
“I am looking at all possible options to reduce spending and offset revenue losses,” Trout said in a statement.
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