Reductions, in the amount of $1,466,590 in preparation of potential 2015 budget cuts, were the main topic of business at the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday evening.

While there were no issues with reductions in the general, aviation, cemetery, park and recreation line 1 cuts, the conflict came with cuts in the fire territory operating budget.
Mayor Joe Thallemer, who solicited reductions from each department head, noted the fire territory’s cut includes not adding two firefighters. “It’s not cutting two firefighters, just not adding two.”

Across the board other cuts included salary reductions from 3 percent to 2 percent, and reducing one vehicle from the police department budget.

When the vote came for the declaratory resolution, Elaine Call and Diane Quance cast the two dissenting votes. Both felt the need to continue with the promise to hire two new firefighters in preparation for the third station.

Call stated she may have approved the resolution if it was known the budget needed to be reduced. Quance added these two positions have been postponed for several years.
Thallemer stated he understood concerns. “I’m torn about this, too,” he said. “I’m responsible to keep the tax rate down and make do the most with what we have … we’re not talking about cutting staff and not arguing there is a need. The question is can we get by one more year without adding two…”

Township resources are being used to fund the new station. Council member Charles Smith stated, “I don’t think any of us like it … there are three departments that certainly can use more money. But at some point we have to live within the budget. I’d like to have two firefighters. But we have got to cut some place.” The question arose if the common council should ask the taxpayers if they are willing to pay more in taxes.

Wayne Township Fire Territory Board Members Gordon Nash and Sheila Burner spoke up against eliminating the hiring of two new firefighters in the 2015 budget. They asked the council members to not reduce that line item.

Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory Fire Chief Mike Brubaker stated the dilemma he has now is the department is bound by OSHA guidelines for the full time department. Six firefighters, the minimum number allowed, are covering the two stations. The maximum is nine full time staff. “We are like an insurance policy that sits dormant until somebody needs us,” said Brubaker.

Brubaker noted the department does not have enough manpower to staff a third station. When the station is complete people will have to be added.

It was noted that when the fire territory was formed it was budgeted for a staff of 12. Those have never been hired.

The resolution also calls for the 2015 appropriations reduced to respectfully set a total targeted tax rate of $1.2151. The fire territory reductions are to be applied toward lowering the levy to achieve a 30 percent operating balance. At present there is no limit to the operating balance.

During other matters the council members were enlightened on a meeting last week with Norfolk Southern officials. Repaving of the Ranch Road and Market Street railroad crossings will occur, weather permitting, the week of Thanksgiving. It was also noted the regional manager was made aware of consistent blockage of crossings by stopped trains.

The 2015 not-for-profit budget requests were approved and will be sent on to the board of works.