CEDAR CITY – The city council approved the tentative budget May 26 with just one change after extensive discussion at a special work meeting May 24.

The budget cuts seven positions, though one of those is not currently filled. A few of the employees who will lose their jobs as a result spoke at the May 24 meeting.

Community Development Director Brian Maxfield, whose job is proposed to be cut, said he realizes cutting personnel is a tough decision for the city and council, but he would hope all other options had been looked at before positions were eliminated. He said maybe the city could be looking at furloughs for employees or other cost-saving options.

“Anytime you cut staff you’re also cutting city services,” he said.

Executive Secretary LuAnne Endres, in the Community Development department, will also be losing her job if the budget is adopted.

“We want to feel certain that all the options have been looked at,” she said.

Councilor Georgia Beth Thompson said May 24 that she has concerns with a reduction in force. In this situation, she feels the councilors and maybe the mayor need to be examining their own salaries. Councilor Dale Brinkerhoff said that is not a bad idea, and some salaries within the city may be able to be reduced.

At the May 26 meeting Thompson said she saw the reason for the reduction in force decision although it is a very painful path.

Resident Tom Jett said he would like the city to see if it is possible to offer some sort of incentive for people who are double insured to just be on their spouses’ insurance and not the city’s policy. Thompson said her only concern would be if the insurance rates were to increase because of the change in the number of people insured. City Manager Ron Chandler said that is something they can look into.

The tentative budget was approved and a public hearing was set for Wednesday’s meeting. Information on that meeting was unavailable at press time. The only change made to the tentative budget was a reduction in the budgeted amount for a truck.

Also at the meeting the council also adopted the name “The Hills Recreation Complex” for the new complex on Leigh Hill, across from Cedar Middle School. The individual parts of the complex will be referred to as the Lake at the Hills, the Aquatic Center at the Hills, and the Fields at the Hills, said Cidnee Beazer, Parks and Recreation Board chair.

The name “Cedar Canyon Fields at Veterans Park” was also adopted for the Little League fields northeast of the Rotary Centennial Veterans Park.