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Council OKs 2010 budget
(by Andrea Cordle, Southwest Editor - December 23, 2009)
At the Dec. 21 meeting, Grove City Council unanimously approved the 2010 appropriation budget.
The general fund budget sets aside nearly $21.5 million for city services. Approximately $7.7 million has been requested for the police department. The general government department will get $3.7 million, the lands and buildings department would see about $2.4 million, and information systems will receive $1.2 million.
Money that is not coming from the general fund, but from other funds total an estimated $15.6 million.
The city has set aside $2.25 million for capital improvements. Finance chairman Michael Uhrin said council took out $250,000 of the capital improvement fund since the lumberyard project has been downsized.
In the appropriation budget, the general recreation department is slated to receive $1.2 million, while just over $1 million has been set aside for police pension. The city has appropriated $2.25 million for the Buckeye TIF (tax increment financing) and the sewer fund is set to receive $1.2 million.
Although the budget was approved, council disagreed on one aspect - the city employee Christmas luncheon.
The original budget called for the elimination of the $2,000 for the luncheon. Councilman Larry Corbin made a motion to put it back in the budget.
"The employees work hard and they deserve it," said Corbin.
Council president Ted Berry said he agreed that the city employees do an excellent job, but noted that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on employee parties. Berry offered to donate his own money for a holiday luncheon.
Council approved the motion to put the funded luncheon back into the budget with a 3-2 vote. Berry and Uhrin voted against the measure; Corbin, Greg Grinch and Maria Klemack-McGraw voted in favor.
Council also approved the $107,000 salary for the administrative assistant and the $66,900 salary for the clerk of council.
Final farewells
Two council members, Uhrin and Corbin, said their goodbyes at the last meeting of the year.
Corbin has served on council for four years, representing council ward three. He said he did not run for re-election because he promised his wife they would travel when she got through her battle with cancer.
The city will plant a tree in Legacy Grove at Fryer Park in honor of Corbin's service.
Uhrin has served on council for two years, taking the at-large council seat. He has been the finance chairman for two years as well.
He will also have a tree planted in honor of his service at Legacy Grove.
Melissa Albright and Steve Bennett will take over after the start of the new year.
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