Youngstown council agrees on $154 million budget

After much discussion, Youngstown council members came to an agreement today with the administration on a $154 million city budget.

But council members say they plan to make cuts to the budget in the next few weeks and to use that money for more demolition and street repaving.

Also, against the advice of the administration, council approved a budget today that takes $555,000 from police overtime and allocated it to hire 11 police officers.

However, Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said it would take up to a year to do background checks and properly train all 11 officers. About three officers could be hired by October or November.

Council agreed to the administration’s recommendations to cut $40,000 each from professional services, and overtime for management and nonunion workers even though its members wanted larger reductions.

Council members said those items will be re-examined in a few weeks.

Under state law, city council has to pass a balanced budget by Thursday. State law also allows council to amend that budget throughout the year.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com