CONNEAUT — General fund revenue in 2009 will barely be enough to handle employee-related expenses, let alone operating costs such as utilities and fuel, Finance Director and interim City Manager John Williams told City Council at Monday’s work session.
The somber budget picture Williams has painted the past several weeks grew darker when he said there is a chance the city could enter fiscal emergency status “without drastic cuts.”
Williams was cautiously optimistic the city could meet payroll through this year, despite a six-figure dip in general fund revenue anticipated within the next two months.
“We’re very close to making payroll,” Williams said. “I think we’ll do it.”
He also repeated a claim that employee layoffs will be needed to keep the city afloat in the coming year. Conneaut is looking at a deficit of nearly $802,000 by the end of 2009 without some relief.
“We’ll need a 15 to 17 percent reduction in every general fund budget just to balance the budget,” Williams said.
Plummeting municipal income tax collections, the result of the slumping economy on local employers, are causing the dire situation, council has learned. Collections may be so meager next year that the general fund could be exhausted just to pay wages, benefits and pension expenses.
Some options, such as a wage freeze and street lighting reductions, would help — but not completely cure — the problem, Williams said.
Council will convene a special meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 to discuss the budget crisis.
The city’s insurance consultant is seeking quotes from carriers in hopes of reducing its medical insurance expenses, Williams said.
Conneaut’s police and fire departments will also strive to reduce overtime expenses, chiefs told council. The fire department has already spent $140,000 in overtime and could approach $170,000 by the end of the year.
Fire Chief Bim Orrenmaa said the firefighters’ contract spells out in detail staffing requirements that sometimes result in overtime. While the department strives to use part-time firefighters as much as possible to fill vacancies on shifts, often full-time employees are tapped, he said.
Asked if members of Local 651 of the International Association of Fire Fighters would agree to revisit some of those contract provisions, especially in light of pending layoffs, Orrenmaa said he felt they would.
“I’ve got a sense they will talk,” he said. “They’re reasonable.”
Orrenmaa said a duty officer handles the scheduling at Fire Station One, home of the city’s full-time firefighters. Ward 4 Councilman Tony Julio suggested the chief handle the scheduling to maintain firmer control on overtime.
Other council members wondered if raising the rate of pay for part-time firefighters would build interest in the job.
Local News
Conneaut may barely make payroll in 2009
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
