Departments ordered to reduce spending

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jan 10 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
A Vernon councillor is concerned that internal budget tightening will cut city activities to the bone. Coun. Jack Gilroy was the lone opponent Monday to instructing each department to reduce its operating budget by one per cent as a way of keeping taxes low. “We took a five per cent budget cut a long time ago and it caused problems,” said Gilroy. “Some departments can cut one per cent.”

Gilroy, who is a former deputy fire chief with the city, said most departments’ budgets are connected to wages and it is unrealistic to think that any money can be saved. However, the majority of council disagreed with Gilroy. “It never hurts to look for inefficiencies,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. The finance committee recommended to council that each department look within its budget to find cost-savings so the 2007 tax increase remains at 2.84 per cent and not the 6.81 per cent proposed by staff in December.

Staff suggested there be an additional $588,858 in expenditures in 2007 — mainly capital works — but council members stated it would be unacceptable to cover them through a general tax hike. Beyond savings, the remainder of the $588,858 in additions could be covered through using a $780,000 surplus. While staff look at ways to trim back their activities, Coun. Pat Cochrane wants to make sure the politicians do their part. “Will members of council look at their own expenses and ways to reduce expenses?” he said. In fact, council’s budget, as part of the administration department, will be part of the overall process.

Don Quixote Note: at Post Mayor and Council salaries should have budget increases cut in half ! I explain that when the budget was started in early fall they had a 3% inflation factor built in. The most recent Nov. CPI has come in at 1.4%. (Enough said)

As to the assertion that staff added the 'additional $588,858 in expenditures in 2007 ' please see the post on Dec 20 DON"T BLAME STAFF FOR THIS ONE. in which I displayed the error in this assertion in reply to an earlier article of the local paper on the same date.