Dunkirk considers cuts

DUNKIRK — Budget slashing options such as eliminating full-time police dispatcher service and cutting back to an all-volunteer fire department are being considered by council members here.
Even though the first formal budget hearing is more than a month away, cuts of about $150,000 (out of a budget of $1.6 million) are already being discussed.
Members of the city council, who received a proposed 2011 budget last week from Clerk-Treasurer Jane Kesler, set Oct. 11 as the first hearing on the budget and Oct. 25 for second reading and passage.
At a council work session on the budget proposal last week, Kesler explained that she had kept her 2011 estimates in line with 2010 amounts and did not include funding for raises for city employees.
Council member Judy Garr said Kesler’s initial budget estimates didn’t allow for emergencies.
Kesler said she anticipates the city will be receiving less revenue in 2011 than in 2010, causing council president Chuck Rife to question how the city could continue using the 2010 budget expenditure estimates.
“The needle is almost on empty. Are we going to try to drive faster to the gas station?” Rife asked.
After more discussion, he added, “I don’t know how we can use the same budget figures (as last year). We need to look at some places to reduce it.”
That’s when the options of eliminating the city’s three full-time firefighters were proposed in favor of going to an all-volunteer force like the neighboring communities of Albany and Redkey; and/or scaling back the city’s police dispatcher service to cover a daytime shift, with Jay County 911 dispatchers handling all Dunkirk’s night and weekend calls.
Currently, the city employs four full-time dispatchers with eight part-time dispatchers.
These Dunkirk dispatchers also handle Redkey police calls.
However, Garr pointed out that the town of Redkey doesn’t pay for this service and the county’s 911 dispatchers could take care of Redkey, too.
Dunkirk’s dispatchers, who are on duty around the clock, receive uniform allowances, vacation time and other fringe benefits, council members pointed out.
“It’s a big chunk of money,” Rife said.
Garr and Rife suggested studying both options prior to the October budget hearings.
Reflecting on the need to do some budget cutting, Garr said, “The icing on the cake is gone. Now we’re down to the cake.”
Council members all agreed that more study was needed before proceeding with any budget-cutting plans.
Garr said council members will have to take into consideration what the public expects from its police and fire departments as well as how money can be saved.
“We want to make an informed decision,” Rife said.[[In-content Ad]]