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Florissant OKs $33.2 Million Budget With Some Changes, 1 Negative Vote
BY CAROL ARNETT
The Florissant City Council approved a $33.2 million budget for fiscal year 2009 at last week’s meeting. The city’s fiscal year runs from Dec. 1 to Nov. 30.
Councilman Andrew Podleski said he could not support the budget. He said that as a new councilman, he was surprised at the budget process. “This is the mayor’s budget,” he said. “The council has very little to do with it.”
Podleski said that he had issues with police funding, the park improvement fund, and the sewer lateral fund. He said that the sewer lateral fund was used to pay half of City Engineer’s Scott Smith’s salary. “I doubt if half his time is spend on sewer lateral projects.”
Podleski also said that the park improvement fund was being used for gasoline, lawn mowers, and salaries, while the city was cutting park rangers. “You can have the most beautiful fountains and parks and it won’t matter if no one feels safe to use them,” he said.
“This is cheap politics,” Mayor Robert Lowery responded. “This man is a naysayer.” Lowery went on to say that he resented “the personal attack from someone who has brought nothing to this table.”
Council President Tom Schneider praised the council for their work during the budget process.
“Everything was done in a professional manner,” he said, including Podleski in his statement.
The budget as passed had minor changes from the budget originally proposed by the mayor. The General Fund had a net increase in expenditures of $105,000, mostly due to the golf course management contract. The Park Improvement Fund had a net change in expenditures of $364,000, as projects were added, including $145,000 for Sunset Park improvements, and $90,000 for Wiese house repair and renovation.
The proposed budget had a three percent city employees pay hike, but the revised budget calls for a three per-cent one-time pay adjustments in lieu of wage hikes.
The budget passed with Podleski the only council member voting no.
Podleski also had concerns with a bill that authorized the mayor to enter into contracts with certain city employees. He said he asked for job description for these employees and did not receive it. “This should be a bid process,” he said.
Lowery again took exception with Podleski’s statements, but said that he would give him what he asked for. The bill passed with Podleski the only councilman voting no.
