By Angela De Welles
 Independent Newspapers Queen Creek’s bleak bud­get already calls for salary cuts, layoffs and a number of other money-saving steps and now the town council may look at how it can be even more frugal.
  Town Manager John Kross presented his budget recom­mendations to the town’s budget committee on April 23.
  The town is seeing smaller revenues because of a downturn in the housing market. Mr. Kross said the number of permits is­sued now is close to what the town saw in 2001.
  To combat the shortfall, Mr. Kross recommended 23 vacant positions be abolished. Layoffs have already taken place, mainly in building and development de­partments.
  Mr. Kross outlined to the com­mittee other recommendations including a 6.75 decrease in pay for all salaried employees and a reduction in hours for hourly em­ployees from 40 to 37.5 hours a week.
  The town manager also pro­posed a shortened work week to the committee.
  “I wanted to do it on a trial pe­riod over the summer,” Mr. Kross said.
  Town offices would be open for longer hours Monday through Thursday, but would close on Fri­days.
  Mr. Kross told committee members that employee health insurance costs are increasing and town officials are looking at different options.
  The topic sparked a discussion between committee members Lisa Coletto-Cohen and Gordon Mortensen, who also both serve on the town’s council.
  “Leadership starts at the top,” said Ms. Coletto-Cohen, adding she would like council members to take a decrease in pay, too.
  Council members currently are paid $300 each month. That amount will jump to $900 each month once the new council term starts. The town’s current council voted to increase the pay in June 2007.
  The town’s mayor, who cur­rently receives $500 a month, would see an increase to $1,500.
  Council-elect Jeff Brown at­tended the budget meeting and asked about the benefits offered to council members by the town. “Do we need to offer health in­surance to council?,” he asked.
  Mr. Brown said as someone about to start on the council, he would like to see a reduction in pay for council members along with no health insurance.
  Mr. Mortensen agreed.
  “ You don’t run (for the coun­cil) to get benefits and you don’t run to get a salary,” he said. “ We ought to bring it back to the ta­ble.”
  Council members will likely consider the shortened work week and council pay and health benefits in early May.
  On May 21 the council will vote on the tentative budget and on June 18 council members will consider the final budget, which would go into effect July 1.
  Post your opinions in the Public Forums at newszap.com. News Editor Angela De Welles can be reached at 480-982-7799 or adewelles@newszap.com.