A projected 5 percent decrease in Ketchum's budget for the upcoming fiscal year will not only lead to decreases in funding for outside organizations, but will also impact city departments.
The city has cut one employee and is leaving other positions vacant.
Ketchum City Administrator Gary Marks said Mayor Randy Hall made the decision to cut an administrative assistant position, held by Lisa Comtaruk until Aug. 14.
"The mayor thought that if he was asking other departments to cut back, he had better do the same in his branch," Marks said. "It's definitely a tough budget."
Other departments feeling the pinch include the Street Department, in which one vacant position will not be filled in the 2009 fiscal year, starting Oct. 1.
As well, while the Police Department has two vacancies for officers, only one will be filled right away. The council asked that Chief Corey Lyman wait until halfway through the year, meaning sometime around April, and present it with a needs assessment to determine if a second officer is warranted at that time.
However, Marks refuted rumors that the special events planner/public information officer position in the Police Department would be eliminated before the end of the calendar year. He said there has been discussion about creation of a part-time, permit and special-events coordinator, but that a decision has yet to be made.
"It's a little confusing, but this would be a decision between the Community and Economic Development, and Police departments," Marks said.
