JAMESTOWN – Members of the Jamestown City Council began to review the 2014 city budget on Monday night by meeting with representatives from city’s Department of Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Youth Services Departments.
Much of the meeting, which lasted for over an hour-and-a-half, involved learning more about what each department requested for 2014 compared to what was delivered in Mayor Sam Teresi’s $33.6 million executive budget proposal.
DPW Director Jeff Lehman made the case for new equipment, saying the city should once again consider using a turnover program to purchase new vehicles on an annual basis. The program involves buying a brand new vehicle, then sending it back to the manufacturer the following year in exchange for another new vehicle. Over the long-run, the program would actually result in a significant savings for the city, by having to avoid mantenance fees related to the upkeep of new vehicles.
Lehman also expressed his concerns about the proposed snow removal budget, which includes both overtime costs associated with plowing roads and purchasing salt to help keep them clear of snow. He said that the past two winters have been relatively mild and doesn’t think the city should use them as an accurate indicator for what to expect during the upcoming winter season.
Following the budget session, City Councilman and Finance Committee Chair Tony Dolce said that meeting with the department heads is a good start to trying to determine how to balance the needs of the city with the needs of the taxpayers.
“I think they’ve done a good job over the year,” Dolce explained. “They know what position we’re in and tonight we get to see what position they’re in and what they need to do to provide the services – whether it’s mowing lawns, trimming bushes, plowing streets, maintaining ball fields. There’s going to be pieces of equipment that are very expensive. I think they’ve done a good job over the years of maintaining the equipment they have. Some of the equipment is 20, 25 and in some cases 30 years old.’
Dolce says that the budget sessions will continue next week when the city council meets with the city’s Public Safety Department – which includes bot the fire and police departments.
The final, amended budget has to be finalized by Dec. 1.
The tentative 2014 city budget put forward by Mayor Teresi calls for a property tax rate increase of just over 2.5 percent.
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