CITY GOVERNMENT Find ways to make do, auditor tells Warren council

City council could increase fees or approve layoffs, the city auditor says.
WARREN -- City council is being urged to act quickly to figure out how to plug holes in wage accounts for 2005.
City Auditor David Griffing said he has given several suggestions to council.
"I told them they'd have to do it in the first month or two, because if they don't, they'll have to start making cuts on the expense side to fit what's available," Griffing said.
The city's $68.7 million budget for 2005 has a general operating fund of $27 million. It has wage shortfalls of $2.2 million in the police, fire and street maintenance departments.
These shortfalls could be made up through the year by reviewing and updating all fees levied by the city, adding up to two additional $5 taxes onto license plates, or assessing for items such as street lights, street signals and street sweeping -- among other options the auditor has provided.
"I didn't say it was going to be popular," Griffing said.
Council can entertain these ideas after the first of the year, or opt for layoffs. The auditor noted that cuts already have been made for supplies, contracted services, travel and training. "There's not much left but personnel," he said.
Numbers
The 2005 numbers are a $2.8 million drop compared to 2003. Griffing said that's because Warren in 2003 had a $1.4 million bond issue for vehicles, including police cars and a firetruck. Also, city income tax collections are down because of industrial changes including Delphi Packard's shifting some personnel from Warren to facilities in Howland and elsewhere.
Next year's budget can't bring the police ranks up to 84 officers, as pledged in August when residents approved a 0.5 percent police and fire income tax. That caused Councilman Felipe M. Romain Jr., D-at large, to cast council's only no vote on the budget this week.
Three new officers have been hired and the city wants to use a $200,000 income tax windfall received in November to hire more. The fire department is at full strength, Griffing said.
Mayor Michael z has said police hiring is a priority as dollars become available.
There is some help for the police department in 2005 as far as training, however. There's $34,800 in federal forfeiture funds for additional training, equipment and matching grants -- an increase of $23,800 over this year.