City may close on Fridays

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A proposal before the City Council calls for all city buildings to close on Fridays to cut municipal costs.

The proposal would change the workday for city employees to four 10-hour days from five eight-hour days.

The plan also would give working residents better access to city services because offices would stay open later, said Police Chief J. Kent Livesy, who decided to put the matter before the council after researching it for members of his department.

“A lot of people work from 8 to 5 and either have to take time off or rush to City Hall during lunchtime,” he said. “It might be something the whole city would want to take a look at.”

Daniel Softley, human resources director for Provo, Utah, said his city has saved millions of dollars since shifting to four-day weeks in 2002.

The city of Henderson, Nev., has saved $4 million in the year since it made the switch through reduced overtime, workers’ compensation claims and utilities.

West Valley, Utah, officials say they save 16.6 percent on power bills after adopting a four-day week.