Suttle will skip raise

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle will forgo a raise next year and stick with one chief of staff as he looks for ways to save money in light of the city's financial problems.

Suttle spokesman Ron Gerard said the mayor will give up his scheduled pay raise of nearly $3,000 in 2010.

The move comes as all city employees are being asked to accept a pay freeze this year. The mayor's salary is set by the City Council.

The city has cut this year's budget by a total of $14 million to make up for declining revenues. The city also projects a gap for 2010 between expected revenues and what officials say is needed to keep the city running.

Suttle will put the money from his raise into the city's general fund, so his salary will remain at the current $98,061, Gerard said.

Chief of Staff Steve Oltmans said Suttle also will not fill the vacant co-chief of staff position for “months, which could put us to the end of the year.”

Shortly after Suttle was elected May 12, he hired one of his campaign staffers to work as Oltmans' co-chief on community matters. But that top aide was removed from the job earlier this month amid controversy. Suttle had said at the time that he would find a replacement.

Suttle now plans to focus on finding a new planning director and a new finance director. Current Finance Director Carol Ebdon and Planning Director Steve Jensen are leaving this summer.

Oltmans said an announcement regarding the planning director could come next week. A national search for a finance director continues.

The Mayor's Office plans to spend about $1 million this year on staff salaries and benefits, Gerard said.

Former Mayor Mike Fahey's staff budget for 2008 was nearly $997,000. Ebdon said about $908,000 was spent because some positions were left unfilled after staff departures.

With 12 full-time people on staff, Suttle's team is now complete, Gerard said. All staff members have agreed to a four-year pay freeze.

Following are the salaries for the top aides in the Mayor's Office:

— Chief of Staff Steve Oltmans: $125,000

— Communications Director Ron Gerard: $71,000

— Policy analyst Dave Sund: $41,000

— Policy adviser David Dover: $50,000

Contact the writer:

444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com