Longo prompts more pay cuts

GARFIELD HTS.Three money-saving proposals raise suspicions Mayor Thomas Longo won't seek re-election.

He wants to cut the salary of the next mayor by 30 percent to $85,000 a year from $115,002.

He wants to cut pay of 19 administrators by 30 percent, saving $646,842 a year, effective the next term.

For example, the law director would take a 34 percent cut. An assistant law director and a secretary, each making $52,518 a year, would lose jobs.

For 22 non-unionized workers, pay would drop by 10 percent more because Longo also wants to restructure how the city pays those workers' contributions to the state pension system, effective Dec. 1.

By resetting the so-called pension pickup, the city would save about $161,000 in next year.

Council previously OK'd an incentive to have the most senior unionized and non-unionized workers retire by offering to buy out their salaries, benefits and state pensions, effective June 1.

Of the three new measures, the first raises the question as to why Longo wants to make 26 to 30 percent less than he does.

The second and third raise the question as to why he wants people he hired to top jobs take what in effect is a 40 percent cut to work for him some more.

When asked if his proposals meant he won't run, he said, "It doesn't mean anything."

When asked why he pegged $85,000 as the mayoral salary, he said it stemmed from a "quick survey" of other cities and reflects a "realistic" amount in "these kinds of (financial) times."

Longo, in fact, is being paid $121,902. The difference between it and $115,002 represents longevity pay for his being in office 25 years.

He reportedly will announce his intentions in about a week.

Council President Frank Wagner, also a member of the commission, and former Council President Vic Collova have declared their candidacies for mayor....