The Times

Weekend of January 15/16, 1977 TIMES/GUIDE 3

Rising insurance costs cause West Miami woes Group life and medical insurance increase $7,000

By EDWIN KNIGHT Staff Writer Even though The City of West Miami is little more than three months into its budget year, Mayor Edmund Cooper reports that unforseen insurance costs are causing the city to spend funds it doesn't have appropriated. "We'll make sure that we finish the fiscal year without a deficit budget," the mayor said, "but it will mean a cutback on spending from now until the last of September." The city's group life and medical insurance have increased some $7,000. The general liability insurance is due to go up about 100 percent, or about $20,000, and the mayor anticipates a sharp increase in workmen's compensation. "These are increases we hadn't counted on when we compiled the budget," the mayor explained, "and it will mean cutting down on spending in other areas." One of these areas could be in city personnel, although the mayor hastens to add that this does not mean that any city employe will be laid off. "We'll use the attrition method, except in the fire and police departments," Cooper said. "When an employe terminates his employment with the city or retires, he just won't be replaced. "But this will not affect the full complement of the eight-man fire department or the city's 12-man police force." The city's employes felt the city's belt-tightening at Christmas time, when the turkey they usually get from the city had to be bought at the supermarket instead. "But in a memorandum to the employes," the mayor explained, "the city pointed to their group life and medical insurance as a benefit which the city still is paying for, even though it has increased up to 50 percent in cost." The city also felt the pressure of an additional $5,000 for the continuance of a community school program at Sylvania Heights Elementary School, which was not included in the budget when it went into effect in October, but which the city council later added. The city's recreation center already is feeling the budget cutback. The city has not replaced one employe who left the city and one junior instructor was not rehired. "We are attempting to maintain the same level of services as always," the mayor explained, "but these added insurance costs have forced us to make adjustments somewhere." "We'll make sure that we finish the fiscal year without a deficit budget, but it will mean a cutback on spending from now until the last of September." Edmund Cooper

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