Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 2
Therefore we want to support this program as much as we can. Harbor Homes has been suffering a deficit in
the area of transportation. As you recall, Harbor Homes pick up any person who reports to any of our fire
stations 24 hours a day seeking help, reports on an average of less than 12 minutes. In order to do that,
drivers have to be on call. They're suffering or sustaining a deficit in this year of about a little over $100,000.
Some of that money has been raised. We are asking that out of contingency we transfer $50,000 to Harbor
Homes to help them cover the transportation costs which will leave still a gap of about $50,000 but we believe
we can obtain those funds from elsewhere. This has been unanimously | believe recommended by the Budget
Committee and | would ask for your endorsement of that proposal tonight.
Secondly, the city budget is on the agenda. | want to thank the Budget Committee first of all for all of the time
that the members have put in and reviewing the budget, talking to our departments, and seeking to understand
the budget and make the most constructive and positive changes that they possibly can. It’s never easy to
serve on the committee having done it myself. | hope | tried to make your job a little easier this year by
providing an extra two weeks. | think the Budget Committee was very thorough and again | want to thank them
for all of their efforts. They have recommended the overall priorities we’ve discussed before. Maintaining our
efforts against the opioid crisis through maintaining the police department at current levels. Also maintaining
the fire department at current levels. They of course are very involved with responding to the OD calls and
with respect to the safe stations program. Also including full day kindergarten which is being offset in large
part by other reductions. Those | think are the main priorities: the opioid crisis, taking advantage of
opportunity to create full day kindergarten which for all 12 elementary schools. We currently have it at 5. This
would expand it to an additional 7 schools and make it 12. Take advantage of the opportunity to do that
through a realignment of some of the priorities within the school department.
The Budget Committee has recommended three changes. Number one — a reduction in the capital
improvements budget of $200,000. Offsetting increase in the budget for police overtime. There’s a reserve
account in case there are a group of serious crimes. That reserve account is down very low at this point. So
that’s two. The reduction of $200,000, the addition of $200,000 and third, the addition of $191,000 to pay for
the radio maintenance. These are changes that | can support were you to pass them. Of course | would sign
the budget if you make these changes. There’s an additional possibility that l’ve heard some aldermen discuss
which is in order to keep the budget bottom line where it is and in order to give a little more time and vetting to
the maintenance of the radios that that be reduced and taken out of the proposed changes to leave the budget
where it is in terms of the bottom line. | can say that if you make that change, if you think that’s a good idea, |
would be glad to include in the escrows proposed in the fall from already appropriated money the $191,000 for
the radio maintenance so that you can review that further. | think that the people who said that that should be
included have a strong argument. Some aldermen may want to ask more questions but | would glad if that
were not an item in the budget at this time to include it in the escrow process.
| think that summarizes the situation and the budget Mr. President. | would ask those who are here and all
those who are not to seriously consider the budget and | would ask you support it with your votes tonight.
Thank you Mr. President.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR — None
President McCarthy
We had skipped over the traditional motion on procedural actions so | will recognize Alderman Wilshire to
make that now.
MOTION BY ALDERMAN WILSHIRE THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO
ALLOW FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROCEDURAL ACTIONS WITHOUT OBJECTION
A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:
