Budget increases passed Wednesday will add more summer jobs for young people and fuel a study of how City Hall functions as the mayoral baton is about to be passed.
The City Council passed a slew of amendments with an eye to final passage of the 2013 budget on Monday. An increase of $405,327 in expected revenues included $320,000 more in tax lien sales.
A $62,500 increase in the governing body's expense line will cover the study of administrative operations. The five-week City Summer Youth program will increase by $10,000. The council approved a $45,000 increase in salaries and wages for seasonal Recreation employees and $24,000 for workers in the summer pool program.
Police pay jumped by $270,000 for overtime and insurance costs increased by $490,360, in comparison to the budget introduced in April. The Plainfield Public Library also received an increase of $80,360..
Budget lines that were cut included crossing guards, despite a recent plea for a raise. The $15,000 decrease in salaries and wages and $3,000 cut in other expenses matched what was actually spent last year, officials said. What appeared to be a $500,000 decrease in the Fire Division budget was in fact an increase over last year's actual cost, budget consultant David Kochel explained. The division had sought a $1.25 million increase, which exceeded the 10 percent allowable range. Staffing will not be affected.
Other cuts included $64,000 in Health & Human Services salaries, due in part to a change from a full-time health officer to a contractual service agreement with the city of Elizabeth and a $10,000 reduction in TB services.
The full list of amendments will be published before Monday's meeting. The public may speak at a hearing before a vote on final passage, but further changes are unlikely, as they would trigger the need for new state approvals, advertisement and a hearing. Monday's meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
Wednesday's special meeting on amendments was prolonged and at times contentious. Councilman William Reid objected to the study of administrative operations, even though Kochel said it would be more than paid back in savings in 2014 and beyond. Reid challenged Councilman Adrian Mapp, winner of the Democratic mayoral primary and the putative winner in November, saying any transition funding could come out of the 2014 budget. Mapp said the amendments had already been approved by the state Department of Community Affairs and any changes would have to go back to the agency for review.
Councilman Cory Storch said he did not want to "waste a whole year trying to figure out how to improve operations" and said the expertise would have to be paid for.
"We don't want to waste any time going through that process," he said.
Reid still disagreed, saying, "We will have enough time with a very smart mayor."
Councilwoman Tracey Brown also opposed the initial proposed council expense increase from $12,5s00 to $85,000, but on reconsideration at $75,000 it passed 5-1, with Reid the lone opponent.
--Bernice
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It was apparent that Reid and Brown had no clue what was going on. Brown did not attend budget meetings.
ReplyDeleteScary for the citizens of Plainfield that our money is in the hands of people who do not feel it necessary to understand how they are spending our money.
The voting by phone will some day come back as a big lawsuit. Was that really _____ on the phone, etc. Lawyers are lining up at City Hall right now to submitt their fees.
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