“2008″ Operational Budget
During dialogue of the 1-14-08 “Regular” City Council Meeting concerning the “2008″ Operational Budget for Portsmouth, Ohio the public learned that a $1 million difference existed between the Mayor’s projection and the Auditor’s projection for the “2008″ revenues.
During this same dialogue the auditor explained his figures were achieved by using past history and calculating them into numbers that reflect present conditions. Also, during this same meeting the Mayor explained how he came up with his projections for the “2008″ Operational Budget. How he calculated the city’s needed expenditures and then plugged in numbers on the revenue side of the equation to create a balanced budget without cutting back on city expenses. Individuals know that just because you spend money up front does not mean the money will be there when the bills are due or does Mayor Kalb realize that?
The Mayor is also using $300,000 from the Insurance Line item to reduce the gap between his figures and the auditor’s figures. By the mayor’s actions he is gambling the money will be there and no insurance claims will be filed against this account. This is a poor way to run a business!
Due to the ”2008″ Operational Budget receiving just a 1st reading at the 1-14-08 “Regular” City Council Meeting an ordinance needed to be approved to pay salaries and make appropriations for the months of January and February (see ordinance and video below).
I have given you a couple of reasons why I feel the city’s “2008″ budget is hosed, but I feel the public should be able to reach an opinion of their own. Watch the videos. See for yourself if you don’t think the city is in for a rough year and the Mayor is doing nothing to help it?