All City of Renton employees have agreed to a 2 percent pay cut to help the city overcome a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall and avoid employee layoffs.

The city’s employees, including elected officials, administrators and managers, have a number of ways to take the pay cuts, including not working certain days, accepting concessions on benefits or taking direct pay reductions.

The city has designated four furlough days that most, but not all city employees will take off. The city will have details about those furlough days later. They are:

• May 22, Sept. 4 and Nov. 25: Most city offices will be closed.

• Oct. 12: City Hall is open, but services will be limited. The city’s administrators, managers and non-union employees will work that day.

The City of Renton is facing a $6 million budget deficit, because of the hit city revenues – including sales taxes – have taken because of the downturn in the local and national economies.

The cuts the city’s roughly 760 employees will take will save the city about $1.2 million.

About $4.5 million will be covered by further citywide budget reductions, including freezing an additional 12 vacant positions, reducing capital spending, as well as using some of the city’s rainy day funds, according to the city.

Since last July, the city has reduced its general governmental expenses by nearly 12 percent, including freezing 36 unfilled positions and cutting operational expenses, according to the city.

The city also has avoided tax increases.

“I am committed not to increase the tax burden on our citizens during these tough economic times,” said Mayor Denis Law. “I am very grateful for the personal sacrifices and the commitment to public service that all our employees have shown. Thanks to their efforts we are able to continue providing high quality services to our community.”

Law is eligible for three furlough days, without pay.

City Council members can’t change their pay (the council approves the budget and any changes) while they are in office. To get around that legality, council members will donate 2 percent of their pay to the city. A council member makes $950 a month.

The city’s bargaining unions include Local 2170 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), representing employees in all city departments except the Police Department; the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Local 864, representing both firefighters and battalion chiefs; and the Renton Police Officers’ Guild, representing both police officers and non-commissioned employees in the police department. Each of the unions, the non-represented employees and the elected officials worked to find the best way to provide the savings within their respective groups, according to the city.

City officials and union representatives offered the following comments in a city press release:

“I think this speaks very positively of our labor unions and the relationship the council and the mayor have with our employees,” said Randy Corman, Renton City Council president. “The members of the union have shown how much they care for their fellow employees, and have demonstrated their team spirit. In times such as these, it is also critically important for those of us in leadership positions to do our part.”

“The importance of avoiding layoffs while maintaining a high quality of public service was crucial to our membership,” said Pat Miller, president of Local 2170, AFSCME. “I commend the hard work and dedication of our members and appreciate their sense of responsibility and commitment to our community and to their fellow workers.”

“Local 864 has always been committed to working with the City through tough economic times,” said Doug McDonald, president, IAFF, Local 864. “Our Local was able to find options to deal with the deficit without compromising public safety further, and also minimizing the disruption to our members. Local 864 understands the importance of keeping fire fighters on the street and found ways to avoid further reductions in fire fighters. We appreciate the support of the council and mayor’s office. The members of Local 864 will continue to provide the highest level of service possible to the citizens of Renton.”

“It was very important for us all to work together cooperatively across the city and make these concessions,” said Mark Coleman, president, Renton Police Officers’ Guild. “By working together we are able to respond to these difficult economic times that are affecting us all while maintaining the health of our organization and providing for the good of the citizens of Renton.”