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Reynoldsburg approves 2010 budget
To balance the budget, Reynoldsburg city officials are trimming office supplies and staff.
At its Dec. 28 meeting, council approved by emergency the city’s $12.8 million general fund budget for 2010.
The budget is $500,000 less than in 2009. The nation’s 10.2 percent unemployment rate has affected Reynoldsburg and the rest of central Ohio, City Auditor Richard Harris said.
“Obviously with fewer people working, all income tax revenue is down for the year,” Harris said.
To save money, staff will receive fewer office supplies and three recently vacated positions will not be filled, Harris said.
Two of the unfilled positions are the network administrator for the IT department and a police department clerk, Harris said.
The chief building official position also will not be replaced, Harris said.
The total personnel savings will total $245,000, Harris said.
At the beginning of the year, Reynoldsburg’s current Chief Building Official Chet Hopper will leave to become Pickerington’s Chief Building Inspector.
Mayor Brad McCloud said Hopper had held the position since 2008 and would be missed.
“Congratulations on a job well done,” McCloud said.
The council also voted to raise the city "bed tax."
The tax affects motels in the city, which pass the cost to their customers, Councilman Mel Clemens said.
Most suburbs charge a 6 percent tax, but Reynoldsburg only charged 4 percent, Harris said.
Harris estimated that Reynoldsburg would collect an additional $50,000 per year with the proposed increase.
The revenue would cover the additional $8,000 per year that the Reynoldsburg City School District began charging the Recreation and Parks Department for the use of school facilities, Harris said.
The increased bed tax would also benefit Reynoldsburg Economic Development Inc. (REDI) in its efforts to bring more businesses to the city, Harris said.
The council will vote in February whether or not to donate $25,000 of the bed tax to REDI.
McCloud asked the council to hold the vote until February because REDI has not submitted a plan the city regarding how it plans to spend the money.
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