TRUMBULL COUNTY Warren officials review budget

The income tax department expected lower collections because of businesses closing and downsizing.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- With a quarter of the year passed, officials are examining the city's financial picture.
Councilman Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, hopes to schedule either a council of the whole or finance committee meeting late next week to review the city budget.
"I'd like to find out where we're at with income tax collection and where we are with the carryover" from 2003, said Novak, who chairs council's finance committee.
At the end of last year, the previous administration reported the carryover at about $2 million. At the beginning of this year, council members learned the unappropriated carryover was just more than $100,000.
Budget reviews
Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said first-quarter budget reviews are set for next week with each city department. Doug Franklin, service-safety director, sent a schedule of the reviews to all elected officials and department heads. The reviews run Monday through Thursday.
"There's been some equipment that some departments thought was necessary and that would serve the taxpayers well," Novak said, noting this could eat away at the carryover.
Income tax collections were down more than $283,000 from January and February 2003 to the same months this year. There was a nearly $97,000 increase in collections from March 2003 to March 2004.
But Tom Gaffney, income tax administrator, said the department budgeted for lower collections this year because of company downsizing and relocations. Delphi Packard, for example, has moved most of its operations out of the city.
The withholding, or income tax taken from individuals' pay and given to the city, so far has been about $100,000 over what was projected.
"We watch it during the year and so far it's holding its own," Gaffney said.
Projects needing funds
Aside from the perennial call for more street resurfacing, Novak points to tree cutting and removal and sidewalk replacement as other areas in need of attention if funding allows.
"Some people have been waiting for years to have their sidewalks repaired," Novak said.
denise_dick@vindy.com