YOUNGSTOWN Parks department faces budget crunch

The department has enough money for eight workers to cut tall grass at vacant homes.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city budget crunch is ready to claim nearly $400,000 in park projects. City council will look for ways to keep that from happening.
Joseph R. McRae, city parks director, explained the situation Tuesday to council's parks committee.
About $363,000 for seven projects that weren't accomplished last year was supposed to be rolled over into this year's budget, McRae said. The projects range from tennis court and soccer field rehabilitation to new roofs on buildings.
Last week, however, McRae found out that the finance department instead built the money into his general operations budget. That means there isn't any cash to do the projects, he said.
"They told us that's the way it is and we'd have to go to city council," McRae said.
All the projects have been turned over to architects to develop bid specifications. Four already have been bid out.
McRae said the city has about $1 million set aside this year for all capital improvement spending in the city. That means park projects would soak up nearly 40 percent of the city's capital money if council were to restore all the funding.
James E. Fortune Sr., D-6th, the committee chairman, said he'll take up the issue at a finance committee meeting next week. Council members need to know where city finances stand before deciding how to handle the parks money, he said.
Layoffs expected
The city has been projecting a $2.5 million deficit for the year, which equals about 60 layoffs. The city will know more about the deficit once a retirement incentive expires later this month. The city is expecting around 30 workers to take the deal and leave.
Fortune supports restoring as much as finances allow. Residents expect such projects to be done and deserve them, he said, since city services are limited to start with.
"These are the projects that are very touchy with us," he said.
Richard Atkinson, R-3rd, a parks committee member, said items like the roofs are needed.
The committee also touched on another sensitive issue, high grass.
The park department this year is in charge of cutting grass at vacant homes. The street department is in charge of cutting empty lots.
Lots of rain followed by hot weather means complaints are growing faster than the grass, said Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st.
Parks has money for eight workers to cut grass, McRae said, though two people quit recently.
McRae said there is enough work for two dozen grass cutters. It would take an additional $50,000 or more to hire that many for the summer, he said.
Gillam asked McRae to do whatever he can because the city should at least be able to get grass cut.
rgsmith@vindy.com