Fort Wayne’s new spin doctor sends press release on city budget
Posted by AWB in City & County GovernmentThis morning Vince Robinson, Fort Wayne Public Information Director issued a press release about Mayor Tom Henry’s budget for 2010.
2010 budget represents continuation of strong fiscal management of city services
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Meeting the challenge of doing more with less, Mayor Tom Henry has presented City Council with a balanced budget for 2010. At $132.2 million, 2010’s Proposed Civil City Budget comes in significantly lower than 2009’s $134 million budget. However, despite budgeting nearly $2 million in reduced expenditures, 2010’s fiscal plan contains no cuts in services to citizens.
Significant? How is 1.34% significant? If you look at the budget decrease, it’s almost the exact amount as the decrease in property taxes.
2009 receipts – 133,977,923
2010 receipts – 132,207,871 a drop of 1.32%
“We knew more than a year ago that 2010 would be a tough year financially, but because we looked ahead and engaged City employees at every level of the organization, we’ve come up with a plan that trims spending while ensuring excellent service to citizens,” said Mayor Henry.
One item that stands out [PDF file] is for consultants. For 2010 they’ve budgeted $2,255,177, a $102,092 increase over 2009. We shouldn’t complain about that because, after all, it will be needed to fight the likes of I&M. City council should look at the entire +$2 million has an area for potential cuts.
Then there’s that pesky new item for $17,125,000 for Renaissance Square which is budgeted at $699,580 for 2010, and $1.3 million each year after (approx) until 2029.
Of the $1,467,405 that is budgeted [PDF file] to the Mayor’s and Public Information Office, $1,361,892 is for wages, a 3.57% increase. If we have experienced and capable staff, why is it they’re spending $4,000 on seminars, $15,000 for a public relations firm and $8,000 on contracted services? Just saying..
Over at Community Development we have a new item [PDF file] that did not appear on last year’s budget. $7,320 for Verizon Air Cards, which allow you to get on the Internet whenever your in Verizon territory. I thought Fort Wayne was “wired and inspired?” What happened to the city’s free Wi-fi service? They’re also spending $447,074 on outside consultants.
One curious item we found was a $595,459 increase in liability insurance for the police department. This year the premium was $258,117, next year it jumps to $853,576.
We could go further, maybe each department could go further.
It will be interesting to watch city council debate this budget.
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Dan: And now we know (as Paul Harvey would say)…the REST…of the story.
Nice call on the similar “numbers”.
……One curious item we found was a $595,459 increase in liability insurance for the police department. This year the premium was $258,117, next year it jumps to $853,576.
Maybe Mark Giaquinta is going to file numerous lawsuits against the FWPD. Any report of Mark’s cousin, Fire Chief Capt. Pete Kelly’s , liability insurance?
Doesn’t henry owne a insurance co.??????????
Did the city go to henry’s ins agency for their liabilty needs???????
I doubt he would be that dumb, but i do wonder where this money trail will lead.
Chuck (I never saw an acre of land I didn’t want to develop) Bodenhafer sells the city most of their insurance, if I understand correctly.
Just one of the “good old boys.”
Damn, i guess that money trail just ran dry, chuck’s a republican.
But since bodenhafer does not own his own ins co any more, maybe we have a new agency.
He sold it to Wells Fargo and still runs it. He’s not what I would call a republican. He’s an opportunist with ties to Steve Shine, Ken Neumeister and the rest of the “country club” republicans in Allen County. Just another “good old boy.”
“One curious item we found was a $595,459 increase in liability insurance for the police department. This year the premium was $258,117, next year it jumps to $853,576.”
Several weeks ago at City Council, someone (might have been Carol Taylor) addressed the issue of police liability. She simply said that someone has told her that these things usually go in ten year cycles. Therefore, since we have had very high liability recently, she therefore expects it to decline in the next few years. One member of council even referred back to this “fact” while speaking later in the evening to make another point.
We have a city cop who recently caused $350,000 worth of damage, but was still cleared by the department of any wrongdoing??? It seams to me that this lack of oversight will probably lead to higher liability for the department, despite what that guy told Taylor.
But hey, he was probably one of those (over) paid consultants the city throws money at any time they want to buy an opinion on something, so that means his word is as good as gold.
Mark, you are right on both counts, but with the way henry does what henry wants to do….
i would bet unless bodenhafer was one of the republicans for henry (which i have no clue if he was)henry would have paid back one of his boyz by now with a sweet ins deal.
The problems continue here in Fort Wayne, with the good old boys club from both parties, taxpayers money being sent in all different directions with little or no accountability from either side.
With these old time politics we will remain in the dark and our city will never move forward and prosper in the future.
They shafted us with Harrison Square and we will be left doing patch work on this project for the next 20-years. I have said without a nearby casino this downtown luxury, provided for the ego of our maggot political leaders, will falter in the long run.
Let us rid our local government of these corrupt, self-centered, political puppets and bring in fresh blue collar people willing to have a open door policy and move our city into the future with creative, yet sound business decisions.