GIRARD Budget pleases head of panel

Girard administration and council have agreed to meet monthly to stay within the budget.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The chairman of the city fiscal oversight commission has expressed satisfaction with the administration and council's coming up with a 2003 balanced budget.
Joe Gray, commission chairman representing the state's Office of Budget and Management, termed it a "first step" in the city's resolving its financial woes.
The administration and council have come up with a $3.5 million general fund budget that doesn't call for any layoffs in 2003 and has the municipal court becoming self-sufficient.
The budget was presented Tuesday to the Girard Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, which was appointed to oversee the city out of a state-imposed fiscal emergency.
In the past two months, Gray drew what he termed as a "line in the sand" to reduce expenses to balance the budget.
At that time, the city had to cut $1 million from the budget to balance it.
Council will consider passing the budget at its meeting Monday. If approved by lawmakers, the commission will meet Dec. 17 to consider it.
Meeting monthly
Councilman Joseph Lambert, D-at-large, a commission member, said council and the administration have agreed to meet monthly to assure the city lives within its budget.
"There is very little room for error on this budget," Lambert noted.
Gray said the city has to continue to trim the budget and suggested the city seek a tax issue to generate revenue.
During the general election earlier this month, city voters rejected a 0.5-percent increase in the income tax.
Mayor James J. Melfi, also a commission member, reported that Diversified Evaluation Co. of Pittsburgh has been hired to appraise the value of the Girard Lakes.
Melfi pressed his position that the sale of the lakes "can be very helpful to this city."
The city is paying Diversified $14,000 for its work.
Commission member John Anderson suggested that the city and Consumers Ohio Water Co. split the cost of appraising the value of the city's water distribution and sewage treatment system.
In August, Consumers Ohio Water proposed purchasing the systems for $8 million.
Melfi said he would need council approval to appraise the systems.
"I think that would be the prudent thing to do," the mayor said.
yovich@vindy.com