Warsaw City Council Won't Cut 2001 Budgets
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw City Council decided not to cut any of the city departments' 2001 budgets at the special meeting Wednesday.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the meeting was held to give the council an opportunity to cut something if necessary. None of the budgets will be increased and Wiggins recommended there not be too many cuts. He also said the 2001 budget has incurred expenses not budgeted because of the NIPSCO building purchase.
Wiggins said there would probably be transfers. Clerk-treasurer Elaine Call said transfers can be made within a budget, but no transfers can be made between different budgets.
The tax rate for 2001 is $2.78, said Wiggins, which is below last year's tax rate.
The council discussed concerns for each budget and listened to the defenses of the department heads.
One concern was for the planning assistant requested by city planner Jeff Noffsinger. Noffsinger said his intern, Isaiah Knouff, is working on several projects and has been a big help. However, the workload is only getting heavier and once the intern is gone, these projects can only be continued with the help of an assistant.
Another concern was for Parks Department recreation director Andy McCleary's assistant.
"It seems like we're spending an awful lot of money on events," said councilwoman Trish Brown. She pointed out that the recreation director position started out as part time, then went to full time, and then received a 12.6 percent raise. She said she has nothing against recreation, but there seems to be a lot of money put into it.
Councilman George Clemens said he and councilman Joe Thallemer toured the NIPSCO building to see the progress.
"I was very impressed," said Clemens. "That was a good buy (for the city)."
Warsaw Police Chief Steve Foster said for the police department to move into the NIPSCO building in a year would be considered very ambitious. However, he expects to occupy the maintence building before Jan. 1.
Councilman Jerry Patterson asked Wiggins if the city council could have a small office in the NIPSCO building where council members could get work done undisturbed. He asked Wiggins to think about that because he believes it would be beneficial for council members.
None of the budgets were cut but there could still be cuts if an emergency comes up, said Call. She doesn't anticipate that happening. However, nothing will be final until the contracts for the budgets go through the Warsaw Board of Works and are signed. The contracts are expected to go through the Board of Works the last week of December and the first few weeks of January.
Members of the Warsaw City Council include: president Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades and George Clemens. [[In-content Ad]]
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Warsaw City Council decided not to cut any of the city departments' 2001 budgets at the special meeting Wednesday.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the meeting was held to give the council an opportunity to cut something if necessary. None of the budgets will be increased and Wiggins recommended there not be too many cuts. He also said the 2001 budget has incurred expenses not budgeted because of the NIPSCO building purchase.
Wiggins said there would probably be transfers. Clerk-treasurer Elaine Call said transfers can be made within a budget, but no transfers can be made between different budgets.
The tax rate for 2001 is $2.78, said Wiggins, which is below last year's tax rate.
The council discussed concerns for each budget and listened to the defenses of the department heads.
One concern was for the planning assistant requested by city planner Jeff Noffsinger. Noffsinger said his intern, Isaiah Knouff, is working on several projects and has been a big help. However, the workload is only getting heavier and once the intern is gone, these projects can only be continued with the help of an assistant.
Another concern was for Parks Department recreation director Andy McCleary's assistant.
"It seems like we're spending an awful lot of money on events," said councilwoman Trish Brown. She pointed out that the recreation director position started out as part time, then went to full time, and then received a 12.6 percent raise. She said she has nothing against recreation, but there seems to be a lot of money put into it.
Councilman George Clemens said he and councilman Joe Thallemer toured the NIPSCO building to see the progress.
"I was very impressed," said Clemens. "That was a good buy (for the city)."
Warsaw Police Chief Steve Foster said for the police department to move into the NIPSCO building in a year would be considered very ambitious. However, he expects to occupy the maintence building before Jan. 1.
Councilman Jerry Patterson asked Wiggins if the city council could have a small office in the NIPSCO building where council members could get work done undisturbed. He asked Wiggins to think about that because he believes it would be beneficial for council members.
None of the budgets were cut but there could still be cuts if an emergency comes up, said Call. She doesn't anticipate that happening. However, nothing will be final until the contracts for the budgets go through the Warsaw Board of Works and are signed. The contracts are expected to go through the Board of Works the last week of December and the first few weeks of January.
Members of the Warsaw City Council include: president Joe Thallemer, Trish Brown, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades and George Clemens. [[In-content Ad]]