Saturday, August 10, 2013

News Reports Shelbyville Facing Tough Budget Decisions

From the Shelbyville News:

The Shelbyville Common Council is pondering some tough decisions as it works through next year’s budget, including one that could affect emergency services personnel.

The mayor and council say everything is on the table as they work to right the city’s ship.

A plan to privatize the city fire department’s ambulance service has spurred discussion and rumors within the community. That plan has the potential to lay-off several firemen, though the exact number and details of the potential plan are unclear.

“It’s an idea on the table,” said Republican council member David Carmony, from the Second District. He said that everything’s on the table at this point, including, if necessary, staff cuts.


"We’re looking at everything,” he said. “Any and all expense matters will be looked at to make sure we have a well-run city government.”

He cautioned not to jump to conclusions, that there are no decisions made. He said the goal is to look after the best interests of the taxpayers.

Council members have stated over and over they are very reluctant to make any sort of staffing cut.

Mayor Tom DeBaun said that in the previous few bad years economically, many people and businesses have had to make hard decisions.

“There’s not an individual who hasn’t been through this,” he said.

He said tax caps and the economy have complicated Indiana’s already complicated municipal budgeting and financing system.

The city often doesn’t know exactly how much money it will receive from property taxes until after the first of the year, after that year’s budget is put in place, making budgeting somewhat of a guessing game.

He said he wanted to make sure he was acting responsibly on the city’s finances.
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The city will present a 2014 budget on Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. The budget will then be sent to the state for approval, though the council can reduce the budget as its financial picture become clearer, until the end of the year.