Plan to cut $6M from Greater Sudbury spending a 'cultural shift'

City council got its first look last night at the specifics of a plan to cut $6 millionfrom the annual bill for running Greater Sudbury.

This so-called Project 6 Million or P6M came about because that's how much council took out of the bank in order to freeze taxes this year.

Staff were directed to find permanent cuts that didn't reduce services or lead to layoffs

About $1.2 millionof the $2 million in savings presented Tuesday nightcomes from cutting city jobs.

"P6M process is more than simply an exercise in saving money," said interim chief administrative officer Bob Johnston.

"It represents the start of a cultural shift."

Johnston said while all of the job cuts will be done through attrition, that doesn't mean it won't have an impact on the city workforce.

"If you eliminate a position, you're potentially eliminating a career path for someone aspiring to move to a higher position," said Johnston.

The details of which jobs will be made redundant and how that work will be redistributed was discussed by council in a closed session on Tuesday.

Johnston said staff have tried their best to follow council's direction not toreduce services to citizens.

"We have identified savings that have little or no impact on service," he said.

Four departments presented detailed plans, with four more to come in October, before the final $6M million plan is tabled in November and then will form the foundation for the next round of budget talks early in the new year.

Even after that, Johnston believes there is more fat to trim at the city, specifically mentioning that the fire department has largely been left alone at this point, andhe sees more potential savings.

The City of Cheaper Sudbury: Cuts proposed

• Closing and selling of Ben Moxam Community Centre in Lively. Building once housed local library and other services, but is now largely vacant. Will save $40,000.
• Converting Capreol Ski Hill to a tobogganing hill. Fewer staff demands will save $35,000. The vote on this was put off, withward councillor Mike Jakubowanting more time to put together a citizen plan to keep running the ski hill with volunteers.
• Human resources would cut the budget for employee safety awards by $10,000 and reorganize safety and first aid training to save $18,654
• Leisure services believes it can save $25,000 through "efficiencies in grass cutting" as well as $2,600 by switching to liquid chlorine in swimming pools
• Welcome centres might no longer be welcome. The one closedon Highway 69 would be sold for $24,000 and the centre in Whitefish on Highway 17 would be closed, saving $15,110. Also, the budget for maintaining the road signs welcoming people to Greater Sudbury would be cut by $7,250.