Last minute cost-cutting efforts to Gary’s 2021 budget will have a “extremely devastating” on city operations and the ongoing cleanup efforts of the administration, according to Mayor Jerome Prince.
Prince asked the council to pass the budget Monday as presented by his office to avoid that impact. Council members approved 4-3 an amendment to the 2021 budget introduced by Councilwoman Tai Adkins, D-4th, after reaching majority consensus following last week’s finance committee meeting.
“You have to consider the history of the type of cuts being proposed. They would be extremely devastating to the operations of the city,” Prince said.
The amendment from most council members that included cuts to professional services, advertising and gasoline purchases among other measures. The amendment prevents raises to anyone already making more than $30,000 a year and eliminated raises placed in the budget for elected officials, including common council members, the clerk and city judge. Prince did not ask for a raise in the 2021 budget.
“I want to recommend a cost-saving strategy, a cost avoidance strategy,” Adkins said, adding the goal was to help improve the overall fiscal position of the city.
A second amendment to the salary ordinance managed to carve out a 3% across the board raise for the city’s police and fire departments after a plea for more money from the Fraternal Order of Police championed by acting Council President William Godwin, D-1st. The budget as amended was passed by a 4-3 margin less than four hours prior to the deadline. Public comment was not accepted since the public hearing for the budget was closed at the Oct. 20 meeting.
Adkins was asked to provide a copy of the amendments to the Post Tribune and said she could not do so until Wednesday. No response to a request for the documents was received from city council attorney Rinzer Williams and chief of staff Arlene Colvin.
Prince’s office Wednesday said the Common Council has a statutory obligation to pass a budget and the mayor respects that duty, Michael Gonzalez, the mayor’s spokesman said.
“He and his team have the financial information necessary to make tough decisions and have shared the same with the council. In light of that, we still appear to be at an impasse, and Mayor Prince will announce his next steps soon,” Gonzalez said in the statement.
On Monday, Prince said the city is already on a pathway to better financial position. He asked council members to consider the position of the State Board of Accounts, which recently completed its audit and shared that information on a conference call with Prince and other city officials. Prince said the SBA approved of the financial direction the current administration has taken.
“The state board of accounts emphatically expressed this administration is heading in the right direction. I request the council consider that perspective,” Prince said.
“You have to consider the history of the type of cuts being proposed. They would be extremely devastating to the operations of the city,” Prince said.
Prince said cuts would come from areas like the law department and gasoline, which is always under budgeted. Considering the efforts that have been taken in the areas of general services and cleanup, not to mention police and fire, he said the cuts would be extremely devastating to the administration.
Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At large, was outspoken over his refusal to approve the amendments to the budget. Lay said the budget amendment as presented by his fellow council members took care of the needs of the few – the approximately 300 police officers and firefighters – over the needs of the many – the city’s residents.
Lay said the city should be looking at ways to help residents who will be facing a $10 to $12 a month increase to their trash collection services, a fee many residents cannot afford.
The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. will implement a 6% rate increase. With people home more due to the coronavirus and students learning at home, residents will be facing increased utility bills. Property owners are also facing the prospect of a referendum tax increase for the schools. Lay questioned how some of the city’s residents would be able to make ends meet.
Lay said while he supports the police and fire departments, now is not the time for any employees to receive a pay increase.
Council members, anticipating a veto from the mayor, have set a series of special meetings at 10 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m. Friday to override the veto and get the budget entered into Indiana Gateway on time.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
