Quincy Reporter

Quincy Aldermen are looking at ways to trim city government as a result of the economic shutdown from the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to KHQA-TV, the City of Quincy is considering cutting $1.3 million from next year’s budget, including a salary freeze for all employees. That will include police and firefighters.

With less money from sales tax and other sources coming into the Tri-State coffers as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic, Quincy city departments are planning one of their thinnest budgets on record.

“We are talking cuts of almost $200,000 here,” Quincy Fire Chief Joe Henning told KHQA.

Quincy firefighters and police officers customarily renegotiate raises in salaries each year as part of their union contracts. A three-year firefighter collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of this month, the report said.

Henning said his department has cut everything possible to keep operational.

“A cut that large could have to mean one of two things: either manpower or something directly related to benefits,” he said.

If enough personnel are laid off, the city’s Fire Station No. 6 at 2340 Cedar St. might have to close, the KHQA report said.

Likewise, the Quincy Police Department is in the final year of its contract with the city.

Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley said salary increases for officers are part of a planned bargaining agreement for next year. But the status quo will apply until a new contract is signed and without one layoffs might happen.

“They (officers) would take no raise or take furlough days for the raise they do take,” Copley said.

He added that three new officers preparing to join the department have already been laid off.

“Unfortunately, they had not even finished their basic training because of COVID-19,” Copley said. “They would have graduated this month.”