By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
November 21, 2008 01:35 am
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NORTH KINGSVILLE — Budget problems in North Kingsville don’t merit layoffs quite yet, a majority of council agreed at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
Members, by a 4-2 vote, defeated a motion introduced by Councilman Michael Lynch that would have trimmed personnel in the street and police departments and at village hall.
At issue is council’s desire to boost the general fund next year to ensure a sufficient carry-over balance heading into 2010. The fund could be depleted by the end of 2009, according to projections prepared by Clerk-Treasurer Lori DeGeorge.
Lynch, chairman of council’s finance committee, believes the village needs to shave some $200,000 in expenditures to stabilize the budget in time for 2010.
At the finance committee meeting that followed the regular session, members agreed to recommend a temporary budget that would cover the first few months of 2009, Lynch said. That arrangement would buy council some time to work on revenue enhancement or more accurately gauge the cuts needed.
After the meeting, Lynch said he was disappointed his motion was rejected and feared council inaction could have dire consequences.
“We have intentionally done nothing,” he said. “All we’ve done is delay the inevitable; I’m frustrated.”
Lynch’s motion would have cut one full-time street department employee, one full-time police department employee, two paid part-time police employees and a part-time clerical person.
In a separate motion, council agreed to lay off a part-time clerical employee. Mayor Terry McConnell said a need for the worker — an employee the past couple years — had eased. The employee was notified this week.
In addition to Lynch, Councilman Mark Kauppila supported the original reduction motion. Kauppila said he was loath to lay anyone off but also said the village faces a crisis.
“These people are my friends,” he said, but he added, “We’ve got a very big problem.”
Opponents didn’t disagree, but said layoffs now may be premature.
“I have no problem with the (part-time clerk), but with the others I do,” said Councilman Lawrence “Skip” Eller.
A village police officer not retained after his probationary period will help that department’s budget, Eller said. Other ideas need to be explored, including a possible income-tax hike, he said.
Councilman Ed Rettinger agreed.
“I have a real disagreement on reducing the street department to three people,” he said. “That’s the wrong move to make.”
Councilman Mike Mauro said council is looking at every option to avoid layoffs.
Some solutions are readily available but would prove unpopular, such as eliminating the tax credit given residents who already pay income taxes to other communities, Lynch said. Eller said removing the credit would rile residents, ensuring defeat for future levies.
After the meeting, McConnell said officials have ideas to bolster the general fund but some of those ideas “need a little time to see if they’re beneficial.” A four-day workweek for the street department is an option, he said.
The village could have a clearer view of the layoff situation by early summer, McConnell said.
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