Real political power comes from holding the government purse
strings. And, as Tim Grewe is finding out, with that power
comes suspicion and resentment--particularly when the purse
gets smaller.
Grewe is chief administrative officer of the new Office
of Management and Finance. In practice, he's the de facto
city manager.
OMF was created in April by merging two of the city's
most powerful fiefdoms, the Office of Finance and Administration
and the Bureau of General Services. Grewe emerged with
an empire of his own after the City Council armed him
to do what it wouldn't: slash citywide administrative
costs $13 million over two years by centralizing purchasing,
information technology and human resources.
The shift in tactics comes after years of letting large
bureaus fund their own similar functions. Now, the city
is supposed to take a more businesslike citywide approach.
Thinking centrally has already led to initial cuts of
$6.4 million in administrative expenses. The brutal job
comes next year, when Grewe is supposed to deliver the
remaining $6.6 million. To do so, the City Council entrusted
his office to decide which positions go.
Still embryonic, the transition already has drawn recent
grumbles of discontent from city officials who say that
while they've been targeted for cuts, Grewe is using his
newfound power to expand his turf, while rewarding old
friends. "We keep being incestuous in our hiring process,"
says a city official, requesting anonymity.
Specifically, OMF critics are testy over a couple of
key promotions and one new hire within the office. Ken
Rust was promoted from department manager to a bureau
directorship (and has a $94,598 salary), and Tom Feely
was promoted to chief bureau administrative manager ($89,856).
Earlier this summer, Ron Bergman, a former city employee,
was hired away from Clark County to become BGS director
at $94,598.
Each is a long-time colleague of Grewe, who is aware
that his personnel moves are drawing fire from other managers.
"Well, I'm not hiring my relatives," says Grewe. He says
that after 25 years in city administration, it's only
natural for him to have professional and social relationships
with the managers he's recently promoted.
"It's the perception thing," he says. "I understand why
people are drawing the conclusions they draw."
Grewe can justify the new posts because OMF is a new
agency, but officials in other bureaus argue that the
positions are essentially the same as when OFA and BGS
were separate entities.
Grewe attributes the nattering to city employees who
have already felt the knife edge of the first round of
cuts and fear the harsher second round, which could cut
as many as 100 jobs. (City officials plan to move affected
employees into vacant posts to avoid layoffs.)
"It's the tip of the iceberg," says Grewe. As his office
maps out the job reductions between now and Dec. 1, he
says, "a lot more people will be concerned."
City commissioners, meanwhile, are taking the role of
cautious cheerleaders. Although their own bureaus are
facing cuts, adopting the mantra of efficiency and centralization
is their best chance for getting back money for their
pet programs.
