Reed’s Efficiency Commission To Hold First Meeting Tuesday

“We probably could have done it, but we think it’s a lot better to do it in a collaborative way,” said Carlos Campos, spokesperson for Reed. “You bring all these people to the table, and hopefully, you know, you can build some kind of consensus and collaboration on where it makes sense.”

The commission includes seven city council members, five union representatives and four private sector CEOs, including Delta chief Richard Anderson.

Councilwoman Mary Norwood sits on the commission. She said the mayor’s office has provided a list of some ideas for possible savings measures. Most of all, she wants to see reforms to how the city handles vacant properties.

“I’m really interested in seeing how we can adopt those strategies and have those work for us in the city because we have thousands of properties that are dragging down our community,” Norwood said.

Reed has already announced one way he plans to cut costs in the form of selling Underground Atlanta, the funds from which he says will go toward savings for the referendum.

Stephen Borders, who heads the Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters Union, said he’s “skeptical” how much input the unions will have in potential reforms, especially after Reed’s changes to the city’s pension system.

“We have had differences of opinion on how to create efficiency because it’s very easy to create efficiency by making cuts to the employees and letting them shoulder the burden of savings,” Borders said.

Borders said he’s glad union voices have been added to the commission.

He and other union members are suing the mayor and city council over changes to employee pension contributions.