Warsaw City Council approved 2011 departmental and non-profit budgets Monday night after discussion.
Councilmen Joe Thallemer, Kyle Babcock, Charlie Smith, Jeff Grose, Jerry Patterson and Dan Hampton unanimously approved the budgets. Councilman George Clemens was absent.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the city will not receive its property tax assessment numbers until January, when possible reductions could be made to the 2011 budget.
Babcock said he had concerns with the Warsaw Parks Department budget that proposed to replace playground equipment in McKinley Park between Fort Wayne and Main Street.
Babcock said he felt the city could wait another year to replace the playground equipment.
Smith said he felt it was wise to spend the money to replace the playground equipment in the park that benefits taxpayers and visitors.
Hampton, who serves as a council representative on the park board, said he lives near the park and sees the park being used a great deal and supported the playground equipment replacement.
Grose and Patterson said they wanted to leave the playground equipment in the budget.
Patterson suggested the council write down a list of concerns they have with the 2011 budget, and share them with one another for possible reductions once property assessment values are in.
"It is the wrong time for line-item cuts when the budget has been advertised, but it can be revisited for possible reductions once the assessed valuation numbers are in," Wiggins said.
Babcock said he was willing to vote in favor of the 2011 budget if the budget is revisited when the assessed valuation numbers are in.
The general fund for 2011 is $9,245,388, a $204,569 increase over the 2010 budget of $9,040,819.
The council approved a salary ordinance for all city employees with a 2-percent salary increase.
The council approved the city's deputy clerk treasurer to receive a 2-percent pay increase in addition to an extra $775 a year.
It also was approved for Oakwood Cemetery sexton to receive a 2-percent pay increase in addition to $1,300 for 2011.
The largest dollar increase is in the Warsaw Police Department budget.
The department was approved to purchase five police cars in 2011, and hire two additional officers.
The council approved keeping non-profit budgets at 2010 levels for 2011, with further review when property assessment values are in.
In other business, the council heard from Jeff Smith, manager of Serenity House, a recovery home for men.
Smith said a meth workshop has been set for Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion where politicians will be invited to speak. He invited the community, mayor and councilmen to attend.
In other business, the council approved a WPD resolution for the department to transfer the ownership of its two steel explosive retaining bunkers to Fort Wayne Police Department.
Since federal regulations prohibit storing explosives in their current location, WPD has surrendered the federal license to possess explosives.The council also:
- Approved an ordinance for Oakwood Cemetery to transfer $1,500 from land to equipment for the department to purchase a 2010 Ford Ranger pickup truck.
- Approved an ordinance for WPD to transfer $7,700 from police pension death benefits to police pension salaries and wages to pay for police pension salaries out of the 2010 police pension fund budget.
- Approved WPD transferring $10,000 from police utilities to police repairs and maintenance to replenish funds used to pay for police repair and maintenance expenses by outside contractors out of the 2010 budget.
