Utica's Proposed Budget: Getting down to the wire
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: March 13, 2012
The Utica Common Council is getting down to the wire with the city's first proposed budget.
On Tuesday night the finance committee met with department leaders to take a closer look at the numbers.
Councilman Joe Marino says meetings can be held day in and day out, but he says what they really need is some strong concessions.
Marino says these concessions need to be from employees of the city, to the unions, and non-union employees.
He also says another way to make progress is to figure out a way to cut jobs without affecting services.
"We're going to have to try to be prudent with this budget as possible...we need to find a way to fill that $3.6 million hole. Whether we have to find it through jobs and job cuts, or concessions, we're going to have to find it because these people can't sustain an 18% tax increase. It's too much on them," said Marino.
He says the last resort is cutting jobs and he say's it's safe to say the proposed budget will not be the final one.
Another public hearing is being held in regards to the budget on Wednesday night at 6 in City Hall.
On Tuesday night the finance committee met with department leaders to take a closer look at the numbers.
Councilman Joe Marino says meetings can be held day in and day out, but he says what they really need is some strong concessions.
Marino says these concessions need to be from employees of the city, to the unions, and non-union employees.
He also says another way to make progress is to figure out a way to cut jobs without affecting services.
"We're going to have to try to be prudent with this budget as possible...we need to find a way to fill that $3.6 million hole. Whether we have to find it through jobs and job cuts, or concessions, we're going to have to find it because these people can't sustain an 18% tax increase. It's too much on them," said Marino.
He says the last resort is cutting jobs and he say's it's safe to say the proposed budget will not be the final one.
Another public hearing is being held in regards to the budget on Wednesday night at 6 in City Hall.
