A resolution requesting the Mayor, the Director of Finance, and the Metro Council Budget and Finance Committee to offer an early retirement buyout for Metropolitan Government employees.

WHEREAS, on April 20, 2004, the Metropolitan Council enacted ordinance No. BL2004-180, which provided for a one-time early retirement incentive payment of $500.00 for each year of service to employees of the Metropolitan Government eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2004 in an effort to reduce payroll costs to achieve budget savings for fiscal year 2004-2005; and

WHEREAS, over 400 employees took advantage of this early retirement incentive, which helped the Metropolitan Government reduce expenses to stay within the revenue projections for fiscal year 2004-2005; and

WHEREAS, in June 2005, the Council enacted substantial property and wheel tax increases in an effort to maintain the current level of government services and to provide additional funding for the Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, voters of the Metropolitan Government soundly rejected a proposal to raise the local option sales tax by one-half cent, which evidences taxpayers' desire to rein in government spending; and

WHEREAS, offering another temporary retirement incentive program would help reduce operating costs of the Metropolitan Government, thereby limiting the need for additional taxation for the next fiscal year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Mayor and the Director of Finance to offer an early retirement incentive for Metropolitan Government employees.

Section 2. The Mayor and the Director of Finance are further requested to respond to the Council within sixty (60) days from the date of the adoption of this Resolution as to the feasibility of and/or action taken in compliance with the request in Section 1 hereof.

Section 3. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to Mayor Bill Purcell and to David Manning, the Director of Finance.

Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace