WARREN Budget carries over record funds

The previous carry-over was about $1.5 million.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city's 2004 budget is projected to include a record carry-over. Mayor Hank Angelo estimated it will be nearly $2 million.
Because the budget hasn't been finalized, Auditor David Griffing said it's difficult to determine the carry-over's exact amount.
The 2002 carry-over was about $1.5 million. The 2003 general fund was $27.2 million, which included that $1.5 million.
The 2004 general fund budget is about $27.75 million, which would include the record carry-over.
"We're still living within our means and spending less than we're taking in," Griffing said.
He said one reason for the larger carry-over was the number of police officers hired. The civil service list was exhausted before the number of officers for which the city budgeted were hired.
Council must pass a balanced budget by year's end. A finance committee meeting is set for Wednesday to review budget documents.
"Through the good graces of the citizens of Warren, we are living well within the finances they have approved at the ballot box," Angelo wrote.
With council approving the sale of Anthem stock in 2002, the city paid off all short-term debt.
"Now, council has approved the refinancing of our long-term bonds, enabling the city to buy $1.3 million of needed equipment and still save $90,000 per year for the next 10 years," the mayor said.
Councilman Robert Holmes, D-4th, questions why Angelo is doing the budget when he will be out of office at year's end.
"It should be a three-month appropriation, and let the new mayor do it," Holmes said.
Griffing said that's never been done in his 20 years in office. Some expenses must be budgeted for the entire year, he said.
"You pass a full budget, and then [the new administration] can make any changes that it deems necessary," he said.
Council passes reappropriation ordinances throughout the year, Griffing said.
Police vehicles
In the recommendation, Angelo also says that 10 cruisers should be bought yearly for the police department, but recommends that none be bought from the general fund next year.
Council authorized buying five with funds from bond refinancing, and the mayor recommends that another five be bought using the police department's federal forfeiture funds.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos has asked for three sport utility vehicles, which cost about $26,000 each, to be bought using drug forfeiture money.
"It will be the new council and new mayor's decision; however, SUVs are nice vehicles to 'want' as to what the department 'needs,'" Angelo said.
Last year, council members appropriated $742,402 for road resurfacing; Angelo had recommended $500,000.
Angelo recommends $500,000 for street resurfacing again in 2004, pointing out that combined with state and federal money, the total is about $1.8 million.