The committee recommends that some unfilled positions remain vacant.

The committee recommends that some unfilled positions remain vacant.
WARREN -- At the end of a two-hour meeting Friday, city council's finance committee said it will recommend to the full council a general fund budget of $27,256,750 for next year.
Council will meet in special session at 9 a.m. Monday to consider the budget and related ordinances, contracts for firefighters and workers belonging to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and revisions to the tax code.
Next year's proposed budget compares to about $26.5 million for this year, said Robert A. Marchese, D-at large, finance committee chairman.
The general fund, the city's main operating fund, pays the salaries of workers in 12 departments.
Marchese said he hopes no layoffs will be necessary, but he added, "If people are retiring, we have to seriously consider not filling those positions."
The committee recommends that some unfilled positions remain vacant, he said.
The city faces declining population, reduced income tax collections due to reduced employment levels, reduced sales tax revenues due to reduced consumer spending and reduced investment income due to a sluggish economy, he said.
Like the 2002 budget, the 2003 budget also includes a $250,000 general fund subsidy to Packard Music Hall, cutsome council members favor reviewing that at mid-year.
Next year's budget includes $742,402 for street resurfacing, which is coming out of the $1.4 million miscellaneous account of the administrative support budget, Marchese said.