City Council OKs 2010 budget; 3 positions protected

Council restores police and fire departments’ funding to 2009 levels.

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By Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writer 12:50 AM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Middletown City Council approved an amended version of the 2010 budget on a 4-3 vote Tuesday, Nov. 17, meeting, effectively restoring $225,000 to the city’s police and fire departments.

Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones was the deciding vote, initially passing when it came her time to weigh in on the legislation. With council split 3-3 on the budget, Jones said she decided to “protect the positions that protect us.”

Jones does not think doing away with the three positions is a good idea, even if it means drawing $694,400 from the city’s general fund over the next three years to keep them.

“We can look down the road and we can look back down the road and see how the city got to where it is, and somewhere we’re going to have to make some hard decisions,” Jones said. “But I agree with (Councilman David) Shiavone that we need to look at some numbers first.”

Shiavone was behind the push to restore public safety funding to 2009 levels, saying he did not want to eliminate any positions before knowing where the city stands financially in 2010.

“I caution you to not move ahead cutting positions, especially important public safety positions, without knowing what your income is going to be at the start of the year,” Shiavone said.

For Councilman Bill Becker, it’s important to protect residents in the best way possible, but it all hinges on how much funding is available.

“You can only pay for what you can afford and we simply can’t afford it,” Becker said.

Middletown Fire Fighters Association President Jon Harvey said he appreciates City Council not permanently eliminating the positions, but said it’s frustrating that they will remain unfilled.

“It’s a huge mistake to not fill them,” Harvey said. “They are vital to how the department and division operate and to not fill those support staff for the men and women on the street is taking what currently isn’t working and making it worse.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.

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they probably took the money from the safety levy and placed it in the general fund. Just like they do with road and street funds.

rj
3:22 PM, 11/18/2009

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At the time, the chiefs of police and fire stated that they needed only about $500,000 to maintain services at the status quo.

The Public Safety Payroll Tax brings in nearly $2.5 MILLION per years even in the recession times. The money was NOT supposed to be used for anything else!!!

What happened to the rest of the money???

City Hall is NOT "doing what they promised to do." Then again, that's no surprise, is it?

Mike_Presta
3:15 PM, 11/18/2009

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Council is doing what was promised for the residents so give them some kind of credit for trying. The economy isn't going to improve anytime soon, probablt at least a couple years. There will be a time when they will have to cut and we will have to live with it, like many other cities are doing right now.
Da*n people give them credit for trying do right by us in hard times!!

Resident
10:51 AM, 11/18/2009

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With tax revenue down in the city, the Public Safety Levy revenue is down also. Mr. Becker is correct, in his comments and thinking.

jag123
9:09 AM, 11/18/2009

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Do you know how many times MFD has to call Monroe and Franklin for mutual aid? If you do, then you should not be complaining. When they call for mutual aid that call weakens the other jurisdiction's ability to serve their populace.This is not adding new positions, it is saving 3 positions. Stupid is as stupid does.

jm
8:39 AM, 11/18/2009

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