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Youngstown Budget Presented to Finance Committee
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Officials project the city's finances will end this year safely in the black going into 2006, a situation they say is vastly improved compared to three years ago.The city's 2005 budget was presented to City Council's Finance Committee Wednesday. City Finance Director David Bozanich reported the city expects an ending balance of $199,726 this year.Last year, the city ended with a balance of $205,317 after running up two consecutive years of deficits amounting to $1.1 million in 2003 and $2 million in 2002, he said.Bozanich said a main reason for the improvement was the passage of a 1/2% city income tax increase that became effective Jan. 1, 2003. In 2002, city income tax collections totaled $32.7 million and that total has steadily increased. This year, the city projects collection of approximately $42.1 million in payroll taxes. "I think that most cities in Ohio would envy that sort of growth rate," he said.Youngstown taxpayers pay the highest municipal income tax rate in Ohio at 2.75%.Still, some city council members voiced their concern over spending as the committee reviewed the budgets of individual city departments.Seventh Ward Councilman Mark Memmer questioned Police Chief Robert Bush why overtime pay for police officers was so high.This year, the department is requesting $950,000 for overtime, while Memmer pointed out that in 2001 it was only $603,000. At least eight police officers, he added, made more money than the police chief did last year when overtime is factored into their salaries.Bush, who is also running for mayor this year, replied that overtime pay does not necessarily mean these officers are working more than the standard 40 hour week. Most of the overtime comes from those officers who have to work holidays or volunteer for special assignments such as the Weed and Seed program, which are reimbursed through federal grants.Overtime on holidays is binding because of labor contracts, Bush added, and amounts to two and 3/4 an hour pay on top of the officer's regular hourly wage.Discretionary overtime, that is, overtime paid to an officer who works more than 40 hours a week, is also binding and will probably amount to between $350,000 and $400,000 this year."That's not out of kilter," when taking into consideration a total department budget of $18 million, he said.Council's finance committee also heard reports from Deputy Director of Public Works Carmen Conglose and Fire Chief John O'Neil.Conglose said his department is requesting an additional $218,000 to purchase two new snow plow trucks and a crack sealer to maintain the city's streets. The city has leased crack sealers in the past, he noted, and they have proven effective. O'Neil reported his department budgeted $450,000 in overtime pay for 2005, $300,000 of which is expected for holiday pay. Repair expenses in the department climbed from $39,000 in 2004 to $125,000 this year largely because of maintenance on a ladder truck, estimated to cost at least $80,000."