Amherst News-Times, 2002-04-03

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WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2002
AMHERST, OHIO
Council OKs
flawed budget;
interest income
proves too low
by AMY PERSINGER
News-Times reporter
The total of the budget that city
council voted to adopt last Monday
night was more than the revenue the
city anticipates bringing in this year,
according to city auditor Diane
Eswine.
Eswine said the $41,243,415
budget will not create a deficit because there is money left in the accounts from last year, but the city is
going to have to find a way to increase revenue for the general fund.
In a year when the city's general
fund income is seriously hindered
by plummeting interest rates, this
year's entire budget, including revenue generating funds, is an increase of $13,496,196 over last
year.
About $10 million of that is for
the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant. The city received a low interest loan from the
stale for the completion of the projecL The revenue created by the
sewer rate hike the city initiated will
go to pay that loan.
Eswine said that most of the
budgeted expenses are labor costs.
"Council cut as much as possible
without cutting services," she said.
The general fund is going to have
to increase revenue."
Council cut about $750,000 in expenditures, about $500,000 of that
from the general fund, in budget
hearings since August, according to
mayor John Higgins.
Eswine said she does not think
that raising the taxes in the city is
the way to go to improve the balance in the general fund. She said
that one of the ways the city could
bolster the fund would be to increase certain user fees for services
that don't benefit the majority of the
residents of the city and get them in
line with what it actually costs the
city to accomplish the service.
One example of a fee versus actual cost discrepancy is the city
cemetery. It costs a resident about
$200 for a cemetery plot opening at
one of the city's cemeteries. It costs
the city more than that to do the job,
so the difference comes out of the
general fund.
Councilmember Jennifer Wasilk
had said previously that the general
fund decreased in revenue due to the
plummeting interest rates. The general fund depends heavily on the interest from various funds being deposited into the general fund.
Eswine indicated about one
fourth of the general fund revenue
had been from interest from the
other funds.
Wasilk said that depending on the
interest rates for the revenue to run
the city isn't in the city's best
interest.
Eswine also said she would prefer
not to fund the general fund from
the interest of other funds. She said
having the interest from individual
accounts follow the fund is better
accounting, but until the city decides to implement other procedures
to bring in revenue they will work
with what they have.
General fundi expenses rose
$863,254 this year to $5,196,186.
There is an unencumbered balance of $1.5 million in the general
fund and after $4.6 million in revenue comes in and $5.2 million
goes out, there will be a balance of
$973,000.
"That's O.K.," said Eswine, "But
it can't go on."
The largest proposed expenditure
in the general fund is the police department with a budget this year of
CONTINUED on page 3
Easter
on parade
Youngsters of all sizes turned
out Saturday morning for the
annual Easter egg hunt at
Maude Neiding Park. The event
takes plenty of planning but
lasts only minutes once the
word to begin the hunt is
sounded. The bunny was on
hand as well for pictures; the
event is sponsored by the Lions
and Leo clubs.
Community Chorus to stage
concert to help fire victims
A local group is sponsoring a
concert which will be held on Sunday, April 28, 3 p.m. at the Palace
Civic Center on Broadway to benefit victims of the Fairway Manor
Apartment fire in Lorain.
The Fairway Manor fire claimed
all belongings of its residents.
The benefit concert will be performed by the Amherst Community
Chorus and is being held in conjunction with the Lorain Fire Department. John Handyside and the
staff at the Palace are donating the
use of the Palace for the
performance.
All proceeds from the concert
will go directly into the Fairway
Manor Apartments Fire Fund set up
at Lorain National Bank and will be
evenly distributed to the families
who fell victim to the fire.
The 80 voice chorus has members from Amherst, Berlin Heights,
Brownhelm, Elyria, Grafton, Lorain, Vermilion and Westlake. The
group is under the direction of
Steve and Simone Gall of Amherst
and is accompanied by Deborah
LeSuer, also of Amherst
General admission tickets are
$10 and can be purchased by calling the Palace Civic Center box office, 245-2323, Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free
tickets will be given to the victims
of the fire by the fire department
It is the chorus's goal to sell the
1.363 seats available at the Palace.
Don't worry: no extra cost
for Indians game coverage
Girt Scouts presenting the Beere family with
a gift of a scouting quill Include (back) Kathryn
Klement, Rubina Ratnaparkhi, Katie Passa-
nisi, the Beeree. (front) Mara Mitchell and
Katherine Aloway.
Amherst residents will not have
to pay extra to get their Indians
baseball fix this summer.
Contrary to a statement made by
an ATT/Comcast representative last ATT/Comcast  representative
week, residents will not have to up- Mike Beat told residents at *e
grade to digital cable to get all of Cable TV bearing held last Monday
the Cleveland Indians baseball night that in order to get aD of the
games on FoxSports Ohio. CONTINUED on paga 5
A little Faith in scouting
what these girls promote
Intrigue, questions, mystery
fax surround contract deal
by AMY
On Monday, March 11, Faith Nikola, daughter of Herbert and Melissa Beere, was born at Community Health Partners Hospital in
She waa the first baby girl born
during Girl Scout Week; this year,
rite Oil Scouts we celebrating their
90th birthday.
Troops in the Sandstone Service
Unit were given squares Cor their
girls to decorate. The finished
squares were then given to Mrs.
Dodson and members of Cadette
Troop #855 to sew together into a
Paith, her parents, aad three-   when she
year-old sisler were presented with
the special quilt on Tuesday, the
day after she was bora. A btuket of
baby goodies, and of course, Girl
Scout cookies were also given to
the family.
The girls are hoping that Faith
will join the world of scouting
News-Times reporter
. Benevolent Association by the chief of police, lonnie
for the new police dispatcher/ snd the law director.
but re-       All six
to
Dillon
city council's adoption of the police
department's diqpaschen' contracts.
Council voted lo pass on to sec-
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The police and fire
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CONTTMUCD en page
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