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Falls City Council approves 'conservative' 2009 budget

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January 4, 2009

by Ellin Walsh

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- Council approved a 2009 budget Dec. 29 -- an appropriation totaling more than $186 million, according to Finance Director Joseph F. Brodzinski.

"The 2009 budget is certainly a conservative budget due to the economy," Brodzinski told the Cuyahoga Falls News-Press. Brodzinski announced earlier in December that he expects all sources of revenues to remain stable in 2009 except real estate taxes; those could fall short of this year's by $1 million, Brodzinski reported, adding he anticipates a decrease of 1.5 percent.

"The budget for 2009 reflects continuing to try to do more with less," according to Finance Committee Chairman Don Walters. "We plan on merging Communications (dispatch), Technical Services, and Information Services under the umbrella of one director for a cost savings," Walters said. "Likewise, [the] sanitation and street department are now combined. [And] sanitation pick-up is now fully automated citywide to reduce labor costs."

Walters added the finance director will monitor the income tax withholding monthly to determine any negative trends.

The city's 2008 budget totaled approximately $175.8 million in appropriations.

"Carry-over balances will not be known until we close the books for the year," Brodzinski reported.

Council members Carol A. Klinger (R-At large) and Mark A. Ihasz (D-4) were absent from the Dec. 29 meeting.

Council will host its organizational meeting at 6:14 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St.

E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3908




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 5 Total Comments
5.
    Posted by Robin Anderson January 10, 2009
Was the salary data for city employees ever listed in the annual budget, Lou? Or was it just some deparment-level figures? You might try asking for copies of the various bargaining unit agreements; they usually have the current wage scales listed within but then you'd still have to find the various employee totals from other sources.

Perhaps you'll have to become an expert at filing requests for information through the Freedom of Information Act, eh? It was enacted to help the common citizen deal with certain type of folk, if you get my drift.

4.
    Posted by l_schott January 9, 2009
To: All of the kind people who want to solve problems in our community by using facts, figures, and future planning,

About three years ago, I asked for a digital copy of the City budget. I asked three times for a copy. Finally, I went to the Mayors office at 8:00 AM, sat down, and stated that I wanted a copy of the city budget. About a week later I got the digital copy. But, all of the salary data for city employees was deleted.

I have tried to get the Fall News Press interested in pursuing this data. They have ignored the request for the past five years.

Meanwhile our school continues to post their budget on their website.

Lou Schott
http://www.tnl3000.com

3.
    Posted by Robin Anderson January 5, 2009
I guess you'll have to dig through the tombs of the City Council Committee meetings and even then you may not discover the whole, Lou.

2.
    Posted by l_schott January 4, 2009
Where will the budget be posted on the City's website?

http://www.tnl3000.com

1.
    Posted by Robin Anderson January 4, 2009
How can a budget increase from $175.8 million to more than $186 million, a 5.8% increase, be considered "conservative"in these economic times? Especially given the anticipated decline in "real estate taxes"?

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