Evanston’s city staff has grown significantly faster than its population during this decade.
As of last February the city had five percent more full time employees than it did in 2000. That’s a growth from 838.59 full-time equivalent employees to 884.24 during that time.
By comparison, between 2000 and 2006, the most recent year for which data is available, the city’s population grew by one percent — from 74,239 to 75,543.
City Manager Julia Carroll says staff salaries and benefits account for 72.3 percent of the city’s general fund budget. That means the extra 46 workers cost the city more than $3 million in the 2006-07 fiscal year.
This chart, based on data in the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, shows how the employment rolls have changed by department.
The chart has been adjusted to reflect departmental reorganizations as of the beginning of the current fiscal year.
Carroll said an updated employee count will be provided at the City Council’s first budget hearing on Saturday, Jan. 12, which will reflect a net 17 positions cut in the current year’s budget.
She’s proposing eliminating nine jobs, five of which are now vacant, in the new city budget, while adding six new positions.