Council President Pat Hale and City Manager Jon Crusey presented a financial “state of the union” Tuesday evening to 68 concerned residents at the Zion Lutheran Church.
The presentation included this Powerpoint slide deck that included a review of sources of revenue year over year along with the 27 different accounting categories where City funds are spent.
We found out last night that Tipp resident Mike Griesmeyer first started getting involved in this matter following the September 21st City Council meeting where Council looked to decrease the 100% tax credit to those who work outside of the Tipp City incorporated region.
Some of the most animated discussions on the budget were around the costs related to leaf pickup and disposal methods, the deficits at the Aquatic Center, and parks and recreation.
Steve Staub, a local businessman, shared that his company employed 31 people in 2007 and his company is now down to 12. Mr. Staub recommended that the City make 15% pay cuts across the board except Police, personnel reductions for all City departments, cancel the City paid fireworks and also end health insurance for all council people. Finally, Mr. Staub stated that he is in favor of a spring increase in income taxes on capital from 1.25 to 1.50% which must go before the voters.
Crusey shared with residents that public safety (FOP) cannot strike, this is called conciliation or binding arbitration. Binding arbitration means that a neutral third party decides the situation when negotiations fail between the FOP and the City of Tipp City. Crusey stated that Council decided to negotiate amicably with the FOP rather than risk arbitration. Tipp City is currently in year 1 of a 3 year contract where public safety is scheduled for a 2.5% pay increase in 2009, 2.5% in 2010 and a 3% raise in 2011.
Other ideas that were proffered by residents dealt with operating expenses and were added to the white board for the city staff to investigate, and Council to review:
- Renew PCIF 0.25% for the General Fund and Safety and not Parks/Rec.
- Move to 80/20 Insurance for City employees from 88/12 (where taxpayers currently pay 88% of health care for city employees)
- Don’t cut Public Safety.. Slippery slope
- Community volunteerism. “Mow and leaf pickup day”
- 10% pay cuts all departments and a reduction in the car allowances to $500/year
- Don’t cut funding for trees (receive grants because of them)
- Control the number of lawsuits that the City initiates on residents and businesses
