When it comes to money in Harrisburg, nothing is easy. Tuesday night, the budget for 2013 was approved, but not without a great deal or discussion and delay.
The proposed budget is over $54 million, a two million increase over last year.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., it began 35 minutes late.
After much discussion and debate, there were even votes on such things as fuels and lubricants, but at last the council voted unanimously for the final budget as amended. But it is still not a budget that is in balance and dose not include the city's massive debt.
Here is one way to look at the debt in the city, it is about $300 million, that is about what it would cost to operate the city for five and a half years.
“We can't even buy a stamp, we have no credit,” cited City Council President Wanda Williams. “We're already $3.5 million in deficit.”
“We're never going to cut enough positions to balance the budget,” agreed Council member Kelly Summerford.
It was almost a raucous audit committee meeting that delayed the start of the special legislative session. The meeting finally started with good news for the mayor.
“I think Bob Philbin is more important to the city,” stated Harrisburg resident Bill Cluck.
“It’s not because I've been labeled a BFF of the mayor, someone has to make decisions,” Williams told us.
By a five to two vote, $70,000 was left in the budget to pay Robert Philbin in the new year, one of the two no votes belonged to Sandra Reid.
“We're top heavy, the city is broke,” Reid stated. “We need to understand and work without it.”
“We're certainly not top heavy when we laid off 100 employees,” countered another.
By a 4-3 vote an assistant was saved for the Department of Administration.
“Over the last couple of years we've gone from 170 officers to about 140 right now,” explained Harrisburg Bureau of Police Chief Pierre Ritter.
The chief spoke against using a police officer who is used in a community policing coordinator position.
A civilian will take that position. After talk of amendments to amendments and many motions and votes, plus talk of how deplorable the condition of the cities’ equipment and the computer system that is running the traffic signals.
“Our traffic lights are being run with 286 computers, there is no back-up,” commented Director of Public Works Kevin Hagerich.
We recently spoke with City Controller Dan Miller, in spite of all the hard work by council Tuesday night, he feels the only financial solution for the city remains bankruptcy, and it is only a question of when.
Harrisburg isn't alone, as at least 21 cities in the state are facing their own version of the 'fiscal cliff'.
The proposed budget is over $54 million, a two million increase over last year.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., it began 35 minutes late.
After much discussion and debate, there were even votes on such things as fuels and lubricants, but at last the council voted unanimously for the final budget as amended. But it is still not a budget that is in balance and dose not include the city's massive debt.
Here is one way to look at the debt in the city, it is about $300 million, that is about what it would cost to operate the city for five and a half years.
“We can't even buy a stamp, we have no credit,” cited City Council President Wanda Williams. “We're already $3.5 million in deficit.”
“We're never going to cut enough positions to balance the budget,” agreed Council member Kelly Summerford.
It was almost a raucous audit committee meeting that delayed the start of the special legislative session. The meeting finally started with good news for the mayor.
“I think Bob Philbin is more important to the city,” stated Harrisburg resident Bill Cluck.
“It’s not because I've been labeled a BFF of the mayor, someone has to make decisions,” Williams told us.
By a five to two vote, $70,000 was left in the budget to pay Robert Philbin in the new year, one of the two no votes belonged to Sandra Reid.
“We're top heavy, the city is broke,” Reid stated. “We need to understand and work without it.”
“We're certainly not top heavy when we laid off 100 employees,” countered another.
By a 4-3 vote an assistant was saved for the Department of Administration.
“Over the last couple of years we've gone from 170 officers to about 140 right now,” explained Harrisburg Bureau of Police Chief Pierre Ritter.
The chief spoke against using a police officer who is used in a community policing coordinator position.
A civilian will take that position. After talk of amendments to amendments and many motions and votes, plus talk of how deplorable the condition of the cities’ equipment and the computer system that is running the traffic signals.
“Our traffic lights are being run with 286 computers, there is no back-up,” commented Director of Public Works Kevin Hagerich.
We recently spoke with City Controller Dan Miller, in spite of all the hard work by council Tuesday night, he feels the only financial solution for the city remains bankruptcy, and it is only a question of when.
Harrisburg isn't alone, as at least 21 cities in the state are facing their own version of the 'fiscal cliff'.