As London’s city budget deliberations continue, council is hoping to trim $1.5 million from the city payroll.
More than 2,300 staffers, from sanitation, to road crews are employed by city tax-payers, but whether we really need all of them is coming under question.
In a bid to shave $1.5 million from the 2014 budget, city council has directed staff to look for cost savings in human resources.
Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen says some positions may have outgrown their effectiveness.
“Postions are created that seem to be good at that point in time, but as time moves forward these positions stay embedded in the bureaucracy, but aren't necessarily productive,” he says.
Van Meerbergen believes city hall would actually become more efficient, though some taxpayers worry services they've come to rely on may go downhill.
“I’d be more worried about service levels going down myself,” says resident Ken Dunn. “I don’t mind paying taxes, but I appreciate getting tax money's worth right?”
Personnel costs make up about 40 per cent of the city's $1 billion budget.
Councillor Joe Swan says $1.5 to $2 million worth of savings were found in each of the first two years of this council term and the same can be done again.
