AUBURN - City councilors want a week to think about $322,847 in changes city manager John Salomone suggested for the proposed 2005-06 budget to reduce the tax increase from 8.9 to 4.9 percent.
The list, presented at a work session Thursday morning, includes leaving several anticipated vacancies unfilled, increasing expected sales tax and state highway revenues and eliminating a $10,000 payment for the 2006 July 4 fireworks and Syracuse Symphony concert in Emerson Park.
An 8.9-percent increase would translate into increasing the city's tax rate from $14.40 per $1,000 of assessed value to $15.68. A 4.9-percent increase would mean the tax rate would go to about $15.10
The city contributes to Cayuga County's cost of the annual July 4 event: this year's would not be affected by the change.
"You want to see fireworks?" Mayor Timothy Lattimore asked Salomone. Previously, when the municipalities discussed changing the Independence Day celebration because of expense, public opinion was not favorable.
"I want a discussion with the county," said Salomone, who noted the county has imposed a higher parking fee at the park. There was also some discussion about the towns of Owasco and Fleming contributing to the event.
"The message is that we need more cooperation," Salomone said. "We're not eliminating this July 4, so we have some time."
The fireworks cut would not save as much as most of the other changes Salomone suggested for the $42.7 million budget. The biggest savings would be realized in leaving four positions empty. They are an account clerk ($35,000) two police officers ($69,902) and a motor equipment operator ($40,469).
Other cuts included taking away stipends from the corporation counsel's office for prosecuting vehicle and traffic violations, reducing supply costs and eliminating a vehicle in the fire department. There would also be a $12,000 savings in Social Security payments as a result of the four vacancies.
"We heard loud and clear that an 8.9-percent increase is not acceptable to city council," Salomone said about making additional changes to the budget. "We are learning to do more with less."
Salomone did not include the elimination of the Auburn police's school resource officer program, which costs the city $250,000 and the city school district $175,000 and puts five police officers in the district's seven schools. He said even if the city opted out of paying for the resource officers, it would not save the entire $250,000 because the officers - among the highest paid in the department - would "bump" officers with less seniority. The savings would be about $75,000.
Councilor Tom McNabb said he supported the merits of the resource officers program, but not the program itself.
"I don't ask the superintendent of schools to pave the streets of the city, and he shouldn't ask us to pay for the SROs."
Councilor David Dempsey suggested Salomone formally request the district to pay a greater share of the program.
Lattimore said it's important for the city to continue to support the SROs, even if it's expensive.
"If you didn't have it, as a child strays off the path, it ends up costing more in the end," he said. "I hate to see the budget impact it, but I do agree with asking the school district to pick up the tab."
Councilors also discussed eliminating a total of $7,491 in salary upgrades to five administrative positions. Salomone did not include them in his suggestions because they were considered merit raises, or salary increases to balance positions that had additional responsibilities.
Lattimore complained that all of them - from assessor to assistant corporation counsel - were in city hall.
"I don't want to see city hall get more bacon than the rank and file," the mayor said.
Salomone said that wasn't the case. Other city workers in similar positions have had their salary grades raised, he said, and most other employees are covered by union agreements.
Salomone attributes most of the budget increases to rising fuel costs, pensions and four labor contracts approved this year carrying 3-percent salary increases.
Salomone had hoped to get some direction from the council regarding his suggestions, but McNabb said he wanted time to think about them until the council meets again May 26. The city manager said he would prepare several budget scenarios to present at that time.
In other news:
- State Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, met briefly with city council and heard from members about several issues they would like to see state government address.
Councilor Robert Hunter brought up the pensions, which have driven municipal budgets up significantly in recent years. Lattimore told Valesky the state must prevent an increase in energy costs for manufacturers that have benefited from several programs that are scheduled to end because of the sale of the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant.
- Lattimore defended criticism about the council's recent decision to temporarily move its meetings from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Thursdays.
"A lot of people work at night and they would like the opportunity to go to meetings," Lattimore said. "We want working moms and dads who can't make night meetings to come down."
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
An 8.9-percent increase would translate into increasing the city's tax rate from $14.40 per $1,000 of assessed value to $15.68. A 4.9-percent increase would mean the tax rate would go to about $15.10
The city contributes to Cayuga County's cost of the annual July 4 event: this year's would not be affected by the change.
"You want to see fireworks?" Mayor Timothy Lattimore asked Salomone. Previously, when the municipalities discussed changing the Independence Day celebration because of expense, public opinion was not favorable.
"I want a discussion with the county," said Salomone, who noted the county has imposed a higher parking fee at the park. There was also some discussion about the towns of Owasco and Fleming contributing to the event.
"The message is that we need more cooperation," Salomone said. "We're not eliminating this July 4, so we have some time."
The fireworks cut would not save as much as most of the other changes Salomone suggested for the $42.7 million budget. The biggest savings would be realized in leaving four positions empty. They are an account clerk ($35,000) two police officers ($69,902) and a motor equipment operator ($40,469).
Other cuts included taking away stipends from the corporation counsel's office for prosecuting vehicle and traffic violations, reducing supply costs and eliminating a vehicle in the fire department. There would also be a $12,000 savings in Social Security payments as a result of the four vacancies.
"We heard loud and clear that an 8.9-percent increase is not acceptable to city council," Salomone said about making additional changes to the budget. "We are learning to do more with less."
Salomone did not include the elimination of the Auburn police's school resource officer program, which costs the city $250,000 and the city school district $175,000 and puts five police officers in the district's seven schools. He said even if the city opted out of paying for the resource officers, it would not save the entire $250,000 because the officers - among the highest paid in the department - would "bump" officers with less seniority. The savings would be about $75,000.
Councilor Tom McNabb said he supported the merits of the resource officers program, but not the program itself.
"I don't ask the superintendent of schools to pave the streets of the city, and he shouldn't ask us to pay for the SROs."
Councilor David Dempsey suggested Salomone formally request the district to pay a greater share of the program.
Lattimore said it's important for the city to continue to support the SROs, even if it's expensive.
"If you didn't have it, as a child strays off the path, it ends up costing more in the end," he said. "I hate to see the budget impact it, but I do agree with asking the school district to pick up the tab."
Councilors also discussed eliminating a total of $7,491 in salary upgrades to five administrative positions. Salomone did not include them in his suggestions because they were considered merit raises, or salary increases to balance positions that had additional responsibilities.
Lattimore complained that all of them - from assessor to assistant corporation counsel - were in city hall.
"I don't want to see city hall get more bacon than the rank and file," the mayor said.
Salomone said that wasn't the case. Other city workers in similar positions have had their salary grades raised, he said, and most other employees are covered by union agreements.
Salomone attributes most of the budget increases to rising fuel costs, pensions and four labor contracts approved this year carrying 3-percent salary increases.
Salomone had hoped to get some direction from the council regarding his suggestions, but McNabb said he wanted time to think about them until the council meets again May 26. The city manager said he would prepare several budget scenarios to present at that time.
In other news:
- State Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, met briefly with city council and heard from members about several issues they would like to see state government address.
Councilor Robert Hunter brought up the pensions, which have driven municipal budgets up significantly in recent years. Lattimore told Valesky the state must prevent an increase in energy costs for manufacturers that have benefited from several programs that are scheduled to end because of the sale of the Fitzpatrick nuclear plant.
- Lattimore defended criticism about the council's recent decision to temporarily move its meetings from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Thursdays.
"A lot of people work at night and they would like the opportunity to go to meetings," Lattimore said. "We want working moms and dads who can't make night meetings to come down."
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
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