New plan would ax 44 city workers, slash services

To contact us Click HERE


A new budgetplan floating around City Hall would freeze property taxes this year but notwithout some real pain.The spendingproposal would lay off 44 municipal workers, close the Manross branch library,cut park programs in half, ax Dial-a-Ride and cut off funding for everythingfrom the after graduation parties to the Mum Festival.The plan wasprepared by the city comptroller’s office in response to a query from cityCouncilor Ken Cockayne about what it would take hold property taxes in checkthis year.To pull thatoff, the city would need to reduce its proposed $177 million spending plan by$6.5 million, officials said.Topping thelist of proposed cuts was a 50 percent reduction in the salary of citycouncilors, from $9,700 annually to less than $5,000 – a symbolic step thatprobably couldn’t be done because officials only have the power to set councilsalaries for those chosen during the next municipal election.Also eyedfor cuts are the code enforcement and community services allocations, both ofwhich would be eliminated completely.  Click here for the full story.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com