Seng revises previously approved budget plan
A few weeks after the City Council tentatively approved it, Mayor Coleen Seng's copy of City Councilman Terry Werner's budget changes is a bit crumpled and mussed with hand-written notes.
Her administration's tepid response to the document might lead one to believe it had been dumped in the trash a couple times out of frustration.
As it turns out, Seng turned the sheets ragged while doing her homework: Meeting the no-tax-hike goal stated in Werner's proposal and the council's actions, but in a slightly different way.
The council was presented with the counterproposal Monday before a public hearing on the city budget. It uses the plan tentatively approved by the council in July as a template, and shaves the same amount, about $1.3million, from Seng's original budget.
It leaves only the need for a property tax hike of about ½ cent per $100 of valuation, which was approved by voters during previous bond votes.
Her original budget called for a hike of about 1½ cents per $100 of property valuation.
Council members have made it clear they will not accept a tax hike; they fear it could jeopardize passage of a $75 million bond issue before voters Sept. 14.
The administration's new plan largely hinges on cutting new spending outlined in Werner's successful proposal. Namely, reducing additional firefighters.
New information also provided fresh sources of savings. The city's payment to the Lancaster County Corrections Department, for example, will be $50,000 less than expected.
Council members voted in July to add four firefighters in addition to two proposed in Seng's budget. The mayor's compromise plan would add just one, bringing the number of new firefighters to three.
Werner's plan also contained two more police officers and one civilian support staff; Seng adds none, and instead shifts five officers formerly in elementary schools to the streets.
Restored in Seng's package is money for maintenance of trails and parks, which became a lightning rod for criticism after the council approved its cuts. Pulled is money to implement findings of a transportation study, including two new bus drivers to help concentrate bus service in areas with more passengers.
And left largely intact in Seng's package is a program for low-income bus riders lauded by several people during the hearing. Under the trial program, low-income residents would have to pay just a few dollars a month for bus passes.
"There are low-income members of the community doing all they can to be employed," said Linda Thomsen, director of employee services at Goodwill. "Reduced-cost bus transportation will allow them to continue to work."
Dean Settle, executive director of the Community Mental Health Center, said the lack of affordable transportation is the main reason people with mental illness do not show up for doctors' appointments and work.
The council will vote on final changes to the budget Wednesday. Those recommended by Seng spring from political necessity, not preferred budget policy.
A major source of new savings in her plan, for example, is delaying for a year or more the purchase of $312,750 in equipment for the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments.
"Some of the things we're doing," said Budget Officer Steve Hubka, "will make it more difficult to balance future budgets."
With cuts to the budget now being crafted a virtual guarantee, some council members are more comfortable with surgical incisions directed by staff than those made by the council.
"I think the mayor and department directors have followed much more of a professional process in an honest effort to reach a compromise," Councilman Glenn Friendt said. Like other council members, he had but a few minutes to review Seng's plan Monday after it was handed out.
"If meeting the goal of not having a tax increase is a priority, they have the expertise to know how to do that best."
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@;journalstar.com.
Her administration's tepid response to the document might lead one to believe it had been dumped in the trash a couple times out of frustration.
As it turns out, Seng turned the sheets ragged while doing her homework: Meeting the no-tax-hike goal stated in Werner's proposal and the council's actions, but in a slightly different way.
The council was presented with the counterproposal Monday before a public hearing on the city budget. It uses the plan tentatively approved by the council in July as a template, and shaves the same amount, about $1.3million, from Seng's original budget.
It leaves only the need for a property tax hike of about ½ cent per $100 of valuation, which was approved by voters during previous bond votes.
Her original budget called for a hike of about 1½ cents per $100 of property valuation.
Council members have made it clear they will not accept a tax hike; they fear it could jeopardize passage of a $75 million bond issue before voters Sept. 14.
The administration's new plan largely hinges on cutting new spending outlined in Werner's successful proposal. Namely, reducing additional firefighters.
New information also provided fresh sources of savings. The city's payment to the Lancaster County Corrections Department, for example, will be $50,000 less than expected.
Council members voted in July to add four firefighters in addition to two proposed in Seng's budget. The mayor's compromise plan would add just one, bringing the number of new firefighters to three.
Werner's plan also contained two more police officers and one civilian support staff; Seng adds none, and instead shifts five officers formerly in elementary schools to the streets.
Restored in Seng's package is money for maintenance of trails and parks, which became a lightning rod for criticism after the council approved its cuts. Pulled is money to implement findings of a transportation study, including two new bus drivers to help concentrate bus service in areas with more passengers.
And left largely intact in Seng's package is a program for low-income bus riders lauded by several people during the hearing. Under the trial program, low-income residents would have to pay just a few dollars a month for bus passes.
"There are low-income members of the community doing all they can to be employed," said Linda Thomsen, director of employee services at Goodwill. "Reduced-cost bus transportation will allow them to continue to work."
Dean Settle, executive director of the Community Mental Health Center, said the lack of affordable transportation is the main reason people with mental illness do not show up for doctors' appointments and work.
The council will vote on final changes to the budget Wednesday. Those recommended by Seng spring from political necessity, not preferred budget policy.
A major source of new savings in her plan, for example, is delaying for a year or more the purchase of $312,750 in equipment for the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments.
"Some of the things we're doing," said Budget Officer Steve Hubka, "will make it more difficult to balance future budgets."
With cuts to the budget now being crafted a virtual guarantee, some council members are more comfortable with surgical incisions directed by staff than those made by the council.
"I think the mayor and department directors have followed much more of a professional process in an honest effort to reach a compromise," Councilman Glenn Friendt said. Like other council members, he had but a few minutes to review Seng's plan Monday after it was handed out.
"If meeting the goal of not having a tax increase is a priority, they have the expertise to know how to do that best."
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@;journalstar.com.
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