Dunkirk budget is questioned

DUNKIRK — Council gave initial approval to the city’s 2017 budget despite the fact that it is not balanced.
Dunkirk City Council approved its budget for next year on first reading Monday even though the general fund is $90,726 over budget, but not without discussion from the public and council members.
Council also heard from a representative of Barnum and Brown Insurance about health insurance for city employees.
Umbaugh and Associates, an accounting firm hired to help with the budgeting process, said the town has projected revenue of $1,181,829 for 2017, which is $90,726 less than its proposed budget of $1,272,555.
Mayor Gene Ritter asked for comment from the public.
“I would like to know what we’re doing to cut the ($90,726) out of the general fund,” asked former mayor Dan Watson, who lost his re-election bid to Ritter in November.
Ritter informed Watson that the budget was over because of employee raises and the addition of a police officer.
“As mayor it’s your duty to present a balanced budget to this council for their consideration. To me it doesn’t look like you’ve done your homework,” Watson said.
“I think we need to lower it myself,” council member Jack Robbins said.
Council member Jesse Bivens suggested getting rid of employee raises, while council member Bryan Jessup wanted to keep raises and increase overtime for the police department.
But ultimately, Robbins made a motion to approve the first reading of the budget after eliminating the additional police officer in favor of earmarking an additional $20,000 for overtime for the department.
“We’re not gonna have a balanced budget by eliminating a police officer,” Ritter said.
“We’re just gonna have to keep an eye on it,” Robbins said after he, Tom Johnson and Jessup voted to approve the budget.
Lisa Street and Bivens voted against the approval. They, along with Ritter, were in favor of having another special meeting to discuss options.
Council will vote on the budget on second, and final, reading at its Oct. 24 meeting.
Also Monday, Aaron Walter of Barnum and Brown informed council that premiums keep increasing and presented three options to help control costs.
Those included having employees choose a primary care physician, raising the co-pay by $5 or increasing the deductible to $1,000.
Council chose to wait on making a decision to allow time to consult with city employees.
In other business, council:
•Heard that the mayor signed letters supporting Buckeye Community Hope Foundation’s effort to get tax credits for the construction of a senior housing complex in the city. Dunkirk and Buckeye have been working together on the Community Crossing senior housing project for several years.
•Accepted the recommendation of Ron Fuller as the new library board member.
•Gave a $300 donation to Judy Davenport for Dunkirk Food Pantry.
•Tabled a decision on adding street lights at Quincy Place.
•Approved a $2,000 transfer to the park labor fund from the maintenance fund.
•Approved funding not to exceed $5,000 for an income survey to qualify for grants to have a stormwater study done for the city to help with flooding issues.
•Agreed not to exceed $6,000 for re-piping on well number four at the Dunkirk Water Department.
•Approved paying $1,135.32 to have a mower winterized.
•Approved waiting until spring to line 76 feet of sewer lines on Walsh Court in Layne Addition.