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City budget outlook gloomy

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By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer 8:51 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Rainy day funds are designed for days like these.

The proposed 2010 city budget is the toughest City Manager Jim Bodenmiller remembers, similar to ones in the late ’80s during equally bleak times.

“It hasn’t just been a rainy day, it’s been a rainy year,” he said.

City commissioners reviewed the budget on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and will again at 6 p.m. today in the City Hall Forum conference room.

This past year was dismal. The approved 2009 budget called for more than $40.6 million in general fund revenues. Actual revenues came in about $3 million short of that.

The city will use nearly $1.5 million in rainy day funds to balance the 2009 books and it cut another $1.5 million throughout the past year.

The cuts came from examining every expense, Bodenmiller said, from office supplies to water treatment chemicals. It also left open jobs unfilled, increasing the number of vacant positions to about 100.

“2009 has been a tremendous struggle ... The entire nation is feeling the effects of this economy,” he said.

For 2010, the city’s general fund revenues are projected at nearly $37.3 million and expenditures at $38.3 million, meaning another $1 million in reserves will be used.

Income taxes are estimated at nearly $27.5 million, which Finance Director Mark Beckdahl said is down to levels last seen in 2005.

Other revenues also are down, such as the local government funds from the state and building permit fees.

To trim expenses, each department had to cut 5 percent from its budget, avoiding about $1.5 million in costs.

No layoffs are planned for now, Bodenmiller said, but about 15 more openings from retirements and reorganizing duties won’t be filled.

Non-union employees and two unions also won’t receive across-the-board raises.

Mayor Warren Copeland asked city staff to study options for property and income tax increases and present the information to commissioners at their retreat in February.

“Let’s look at that seriously,” he said.

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I beginning to wonder at all if the city of Springtuckey OH is bring in any kind of jobs with meaningful jobs. How's Obama working out for ya? Suckers!!!

Travis Aker
4:30 PM, 11/18/2009

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How are people going to pay more income and property taxes when we don't even have jobs in the city of Springfield being created at all. People are barely paying there property taxes now. Then you wonder why people are not passing school levies,its simple we can't afford it. To my man Boomer come to the Workplus center here in Springfield and see how bad it really is,how many people are truly out of work,you don't even have a clue since your from a different area all together.

Travis Aker
4:27 PM, 11/18/2009

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Probably need to consider more city hall pay cuts...or complete job eliminations. Publish a list of what each of these City Talking Heads gets paid...and see if they're really worth it. Saying they got "100" unfilled jobs sounds like weasel talk.

JimmyCrackCorn
2:10 PM, 11/18/2009

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Just who pays for this "RETREAT"?...is it the taxpayer? Maybe that should be trimmed!

concerned taxpayer
1:56 PM, 11/18/2009

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My ex has a home in Spfld. He rents it out. Do they know it or make him pay income tax on his income no. They send me the paperwork and we have been divorced for 5 years.
Spfld need leadership.

bobbie
1:48 PM, 11/18/2009

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