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Council passes 2017 budget

EAST LIVERPOOL — Among legislation passed this week by city council was the 2017 permanent budget totaling $17.8 million which the finance chairman said should be adequate for the year.

Councilman Bill Hogue, reporting in his capacity as finance chairman, recommended council pass the budget, which includes a $4.1 million general fund balance, saying he is “reasonably assured if we can stay near to this budget, we can stay in the black at the end of the year.”

He said there are some concerns, such as the retaining wall repairs needed on Garfield Street which were initially estimated at more than $1 million. But Service-Safety Director Brian Allen reported later in the meeting he is looking at a much less expensive alternative, for which funding is already being sought.

Hogue pointed out the police chief has expressed his concern that the $36,000 budgeted for his department’s overtime this year won’t be sufficient but pointed out the city is planning to implement the traffic cam program for speeding enforcement which should bring in some revenue.

Council passed the budget unanimously with no comment.

Other legislation passed during the meeting included a resolution “strongly opposing” Gov. John Kasich’s proposed state budget which includes a provision for centralizing collection of tax returns which city officials fear will cause a substantial loss of revenue from local tax collections.

The resolution noted the city has already lost $2.4 million from reductions in Local Government Fund monies, elimination of the estate tax and accelerated phase-out of promised reimbursement of lost revenue due to repeal of the tangible personal property tax by the state.

“This is why this community might want to say ‘no,'” Hogue said, referring to the lost $2.4 million, prompting Councilman Ray Perorazio to interject, “And why (the state) might want to say ‘yes.'”

An ordinance was passed authorizing the purchase of two 2017 Ford Police Interceptor utility vehicles from Grand Ford in the East End to be used as police cruisers at a cost of $29,498 each, to be financed through the U.S. Bank over four years at 3.35 percent interest.

Hogue asked Chief John Lane if the new cruisers will have dash cams, with Lane saying that would cost $5,000 per vehicle plus an additional $10,000 or more for the storage system needed to retain the recordings.

Council also approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Stateline Paving LLC for the downtown paving project which will include Jackson, Market, Broadway and Webber Way.

Mayor Ryan Stovall reported the city was denied a $1,000 playground grant for which he applied but he is seeking other funding sources in an attempt to provide a basketball court at the Orchard Grove playground after residents of the area asked about one.

Referring to a recent proposal by Hill Boulevard resident Brian Kerr to develop a basketball court off St. Clair Avenue, Stovall said he would rather see Kerr focus on developing it at one of the existing playgrounds which he said already aren’t properly cared for, saying efforts need to be aimed at taking care of what is in existence instead of adding more facilities to maintain.

Councilman Ernest Peachey, head of the recreation committee, said he has spoken with state and federal legislators about other grant funding.

Peachey also distributed a flier for a May 13 spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the J. Burchfield Cartwright municipal pool which will be held 5-8 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, encouraging everyone to attend.

Peachey announced a recreation committee meeting for 10 a.m. Thursday in council chambers.

Councilman Craig Stowers reported he and other volunteers removed 20 bags of trash from the Ravine Street/Bradshaw Avenue area last weekend and said volunteers are needed to do the same this Saturday along state Route 39, meeting at 9 a.m. at Westgate.

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