City council unable to reach budget consensus
By Debbie Lowe

Hoard

There were more concerns than solutions offered during a Monday night work session designed to help Delphi City Council members and the mayor come together over the 2007 budget.

The controversy began at the Aug. 7 city council meeting over a pay ordinance for nonelected a pay ordinance for nonelected city employees. Although there was consensus about the desire to reward city employees monetarily, how to achieve that goal within the confines of the proposed budget became a point of contention.

On Monday, Delphi Mayor Lee Hoard reported that department heads feel strongly about the quality of services provided to city residents and are not willing to compromise them for pay raises. He said department heads would forego raises to maintain the current level of departmental funding.

"If there are any more budget cuts to be made the council will have to do it," Hoard said. "The department heads aren't going to do it."

"And you also have to keep in mind, the mayor has veto power," he added.

In a follow-up Aug. 15 Comet interview, Hoard explained the veto situation.

"When a mayor vetos the budget, the city gets to work with the current funding plan for another year," he said. "And the council has the power to override that veto with a unanimous vote, if they so choose."

Council member John Hampton opposes an increase in the overall budget for 2007.

"My preference is we not have an increase in the budget," he said. "I prefer to see a flat budget. A two percent raise could be taken from (each department's) operating budget."

But Hoard resisted that idea.

"If you leave the budget flat, you're going to see city services slow," he replied to Hampton.

Council member William Miller agreed with Hoard. He said city

police cars and city trucks would not run as much if department budgets were reduced by two percent.

Council president Carolyn Pearson said a flat budget was not possible due to the rising cost of fuel and other consumables.

Council member Randy Strasser expressed concerned with long-term issues such as the need to initiate central police dispatching and emergency calls with the sheriff's department and E911, and combining city services for savings. He said there was a need to address employee insurance costs, both for the city and its workers.

Strasser said he would like to have seen department heads at the work session to help problem solve with council members.

"What's it going to take to get everyone feeling comfortable to pass this budget?" Hoard asked.

"I want something concrete," Strasser said. "I want something definite."

"I want to see a way to give employee raises," council member Carol Dickman said. "I want our city's employees to know they are appreciated and we value them."

She continued to explain that although she was in favor of raises, she wanted to see where the money was going to come from in the budget before voting on it.

Hampton said he wanted the city council to be better stewards of city money and he wanted to find ways to encourage creative savings in each city department.

"I thought perhaps in discussion we could reach some sort of consensus," Pearson said as she brought the nearly two-hour talks to a close.

"At our September meeting, somebody come to the meeting with a proposal of something," Hoard directed council members, before the gavel fell to end the meeting.

During the work session, a public hearing was held to provide an opportunity for city residents to ask questions and offer suggestions about the budget. No residents attended.

The next city council meeting will be Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. The budget will have to pass on three readings to become effective Jan. 1, 2007.

According to Delphi ClerkTreasurer Janice Roe, the last date for 2007 budget adoption is Sept. 30. Failure of the council to pass the budget will result in continuance of the current budget in 2007.