HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 09-16 Council finds little to cut in city budget THE REVIEW Council finds little ,r,4, ,9g,
to cut in city budget
By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS 50 employees has the largest budget of
Staff Writer any city department.Police services use
$1,217,000 of that,fire protection accounts
The Maplewood City Council met in a for another $580,000, and the city's
special session sept.10 to begin review of paramedic services cost$267,000.
the city's proposed "bare bones" 1982 Within the Public Safety Department,
budget. the animal control division will receive
With the 101-page budget document $9,120, approximately one-half the fun-
before them,council members called the ding it had in 1981.The animal control
department heads before them and officers,as a result,will only be available
scrutinized their proposed expenditures for one and one-half to two hours per day,
line by line. It was apparent that the Schaller said.
department heads, along with City The council toyed with the idea of
Manager Barry Evans and Director of raising the$3 fee to license dogs and cats.
Finance Daniel Faust who prepared the Last year approximately 700 dogs were
document, had done their work. While licensed and the fees raised only$3,270.
council members questioned some ex- Schaller also noted that with the
penes for travel and training,magazine development of more shopping centers
subscriptions, uniforms and small and low-income housing, the police
equipment purchases, they could not department is facing more serious crime
identify any major cuts to be made in the in the area.He defended the purchase of
lean budget. 14 bulletproff vests,at$250 each,and said
In his written introduction,Evans noted he may have to ask for money next year to
his recommended 1982 budget"can be hire more police officers.
characterized as the 'Na' budget." No
funds are recommended for the street
overlay program and the$110,000 Park THE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Development Fund is to be discontinued. Department,with a proposed budget of
The capital expenditure fund is to be $658,000,will have to curtail a number of
eliminated in 1982 and several city staff recreation programs and raise fees for
will be laid-off,including two part-time the others. The budget calls for the
workers at the nature center and an elimination of Community singers,
administrative assistant in the public A.A.U.Wrestling,Music in the Park and
works department. the Film Festival,according to Director
Bob Odegard.The city collected$68,000 in
"MY JOB IS TO TELL you what we recreation fees last year,and expects to
need.Your job is to tell me what you can increase that to$99,000 in 1982,Faust said.
provide. Somewhere, there must be a The council will meet again to continue
meeting of the minds," said Richard its budget review Sept.2 at 9 a.m.in the
Schaller,Director of Public Safety and municipal administration building, 1380
Police Chief,summarizing the purpose of Frost Ave.While that meeting is open to
the budget review., the public,the council will hold an official
The Public Safety Department,with a public hearing on the subject Oct.8 at 5
recommended allocation of J2,491,000 and p.m.
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