Neighborhood streets could go unplowed this winter and resurfacing projects could be cut to the bone in Pickerington, where voters rejected an income tax increase last week.
Residents overwhelmingly voted against doubling the income tax to 2 percent, which would have generated $2.7 million more annually.
As a result, City Manager Tim Hansley and City Finance Director Linda Fersch prepared a list of $1.4 million in proposed savings2009 to be reviewed Wednesday by the City Council's finance committee. They hope to operate next year on the same $7.1 million budget as this year.
Street crews would plow neighborhood streets only when there was more than 3 inches of snow. And crews wouldn't go out on evenings and weekends unless it was an emergency.
''We are trying to save on overtime and wear and tear on the trucks,'' Hansley said.
Pataskala announced a similar policy after voters rejected a city income tax last week. For years, Columbus has not plowed neighborhood streets unless there is at least 4 inches of snow.
Next year, Pickerington would have only $20,000 to patch potholes. Hansley proposes eliminating $400,000 from the street resurfacing fund.
Councilman Brian Wisniewski said the city has been trimming its budget for years.
''We really have been able to insulate the public from noticing on a day-to-day basis,'' Wisniewski said, noting that might change now.
The city staff also proposes to skip paying $28,000 for July Fourth fireworks and a parade. Reynoldsburg skipped its Independence Day celebration in 2007 after voters rejected an income tax increase that year.
Hansley and Fersch are asking the police to shelve plans to hire another officer and dispatcher. The police department would buy one new cruiser rather than the planned three.
''That's going to really hurt me,'' Police Chief Michael Taylor said. ''I have two vehicles with more than 90,000-plus miles.''
Pickerington, which has 100 employees, will continue to leave 10 positions unfilled. Hansley proposes that the 50 nonunion employees receive raises of 1.5 percent rather than 3 percent next year.
He said he is not going to recommend whether the city should ask voters again for the income tax increase. He said the city tried to communicate during the last campaign that 80 percent of the residents, who already pay a 2 percent municipal tax in Columbus and other cities, wouldn't pay more because they would receive credit for income taxes paid.
Still, 65 percent of voters said no to the tax.
''I thought it was a simple message, but we didn't get close,'' Hansley said. ''Maybe we didn't communicate our message well enough.''
Residents overwhelmingly voted against doubling the income tax to 2 percent, which would have generated $2.7 million more annually.
As a result, City Manager Tim Hansley and City Finance Director Linda Fersch prepared a list of $1.4 million in proposed savings2009 to be reviewed Wednesday by the City Council's finance committee. They hope to operate next year on the same $7.1 million budget as this year.
Street crews would plow neighborhood streets only when there was more than 3 inches of snow. And crews wouldn't go out on evenings and weekends unless it was an emergency.
''We are trying to save on overtime and wear and tear on the trucks,'' Hansley said.
Pataskala announced a similar policy after voters rejected a city income tax last week. For years, Columbus has not plowed neighborhood streets unless there is at least 4 inches of snow.
Next year, Pickerington would have only $20,000 to patch potholes. Hansley proposes eliminating $400,000 from the street resurfacing fund.
Councilman Brian Wisniewski said the city has been trimming its budget for years.
''We really have been able to insulate the public from noticing on a day-to-day basis,'' Wisniewski said, noting that might change now.
The city staff also proposes to skip paying $28,000 for July Fourth fireworks and a parade. Reynoldsburg skipped its Independence Day celebration in 2007 after voters rejected an income tax increase that year.
Hansley and Fersch are asking the police to shelve plans to hire another officer and dispatcher. The police department would buy one new cruiser rather than the planned three.
''That's going to really hurt me,'' Police Chief Michael Taylor said. ''I have two vehicles with more than 90,000-plus miles.''
Pickerington, which has 100 employees, will continue to leave 10 positions unfilled. Hansley proposes that the 50 nonunion employees receive raises of 1.5 percent rather than 3 percent next year.
He said he is not going to recommend whether the city should ask voters again for the income tax increase. He said the city tried to communicate during the last campaign that 80 percent of the residents, who already pay a 2 percent municipal tax in Columbus and other cities, wouldn't pay more because they would receive credit for income taxes paid.
Still, 65 percent of voters said no to the tax.
''I thought it was a simple message, but we didn't get close,'' Hansley said. ''Maybe we didn't communicate our message well enough.''
