Also Tuesday, the board:
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The Town Board approved $189,198 in budget cuts Tuesday night to bring this year’s spending in line with lower revenues from taxes and fees amid the weak economy.
Most cuts were in training, supplies and equipment, and maintenance and repairs. But one line item, $19,000 cut from special events, will mean no July 4 fireworks in town this year, the assistant town manager said Tuesday night .
The budget vote was part of the board’s “consent agenda,” a list of items that are considered without discussion. Town Manager Leamon Brice had told commissioners at their Feb. 24 work session that lower than expected revenues would require cutting. Mr. Brice had said revenues from taxes and fees are falling short in many categories, from property taxes and planning fees to sales, hotel and prepared food taxes.
The largest single budget reduction – $50,000 – came in the planning department, which has cut back on hiring outside consultants. The staff is handling some projects in-house and with volunteer help instead of contracting out the work. That includes the North of Griffith area planning process that is underway this week. (See our March 7 report on the North of Griffith meetings.)
JULY 4 CHANGES
Assistant Town Manager Dawn Blobaum said the traditional July 4 celebration will be scaled back this year. Instead of fireworks and a concert at McEver Field on South Street, the town will stage a smaller even with “watermelon and a band” on the Village Green downtown, she said.
The decision follows the town’s attempt last year to rein in the crowds, including thousands from surrounding towns, that have attended the concert and fireworks show. Streets leading to the event were controlled and wristbands were required for all to enter. Non-residents were charged a $5 admission fee. In the end, rain kept most people away from the 2008 fireworks.
REVENUE SHORTFALLSSales taxes $114,000
Occupancy tax $14,000
Property tax $30,000
Prepared food $11,198
Planning fees $20,000TOTAL $189,198
EXPENSE CUTSAdministration
Info technology $3,000
Supplies/materials $1,500
Training $1,500
Contract services $3,000
Equipment $5,000Buildings
Maintenance & Repair $5,000
Police
Supplies/Materials $11,000
Training $5,000
Equipment $5,200
Computers $2,150
C/O, Radios $5,000
C/O, Guns $1,500
Auto Supplies $10,000Fire
Supplies/Materials $1,000
Dues/Subscriptions $800
Lease Payments $1,700Planning
Travel $500
Supplies/Materials $500
Training $2,000
Contract Services $50,000Streets
Supplies/Materials $8,000
M & R, Bldg. $2,000
M & R, Autos $4,500
Training $1,000
Rental Equip $2,000
Contract Service $8,000
C/O, Equip $1,000Parks & Recreation
Maint. & Repair, Buldings $9,000
Maint. & Repair, Parks $3,000
Training $1,200
Equipment $6,200Tourism
Special Events $19,000
Contingency $8,948TOTAL $189,198
I’ve never been a fan of public displays of patriotism anyway, particularly free ones. All that celebration is bad for the seriousness with which we must all now conduct ourselves in the face of the stifling economy.
The end results of poor planning are budget cuts such as these. A fiscally responsible government should plan for down-turns. The proposed cuts are thus unavoidable, but certainly reactionary, and as soon as things get better we will go right back to hiring expensive consultants and buying utility companies.