Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said city administration has started to pore over the 2013 budget.
As of now, Montz said the carryover is estimated at $261,000, short of the almost $500,000 needed to cover expenses including the first pay period of 2013, meaning more cuts may be needed soon.
Although he said he was confident the city could make up the funds necessary for this year's carryover, he said the city will have a deficit of $100,000 going into 2014 based on budget proposals from departments.
Montz said with a minimum $600,000 in reductions necessary for next year, there will be many cuts if the quarter-percent income tax levy on the November ballot does not pass. Potential cuts include snow plowing for residential streets as well as manpower in many departments.
"I would say that the cuts that we're looking at for most departments next year are very detrimental to city services," Montz said, saying he does not have statistics for those cuts at this time.
In another matter, Council President Paul Elchert announced a joint meeting
of council and Fostoria City Council for 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Hopewell-Loudon school to discuss the potential merger of Tiffin and Fostoria municipal courts. Those to attend include Tiffin Municipal Judge Mark Repp, representatives of the Ohio Supreme Court and representatives of Fostoria Municipal Court.
Montz called the potential merger "revenue positive" for both cities, and said Gov. John Kasich and the supreme court are excited about the proposal. During a Committee of the Whole meeting before council, Montz said he has not heard opposition to the idea from Fostoria Council members, but has not spoken with a majority of the group.
"I think it's a move in the right direction for both cities, and for Seneca County as a whole," Montz said.
Prior to Montz's report, firefighter Kevin Veletean addressed the group to thank Wal-Mart Local Giving Program, Tiffin Charitable Foundation, National Machinery Foundation and the Gillmor Foundation in helping the department purchase three thermal imaging cameras.
Veletean called the cameras a tool that makes the job safer, reduces property damage and increases the chance of finding someone who may be trapped.
Also, Tiffin firefighter Rob Chappell announced the fire department is sponsoring a 5K race/1-mile fun run beginning at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Hedges-Boyer Park, with proceeds to support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. Chappell said 224 have registered for the run. The department also is to sell race T-shirts and pink Tiffin Fire Department T-shirts.
In new business, council approved an ordinance authorizing City Administrator Deb Reamer to bid out and enter into a lease of a portion of the Eagle Rock Business Park for farming purposes. The city could terminate all or part of the five-year lease if there is interest in building at the site.
Some specifics of the legislation changed following a discussion during a Recreation and Public Property Meeting Sept. 11, in which members agreed on legislation for a lease renewal with farmer Ronald Crum, who has rented the 67.5 acres for more than 10 years, having renewed the agreement three times.
Councilman Brian Bilger said he made an executive decision as chair of the committee to put the lease up for bid, as the rent was set at $75 an acre, an amount he said is "two to three times" lower than what could be received.
Also, council approved an ordinance authorizing a $15,000 no-interest loan to Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. for the All Patriots Memorial construction.
Funding for the project is to come out of the Northstar Industrial Park Fund.
In other news, council:
Approved a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor, and declaring an emergency.
Approved an ordinance amending the budget ordinance to appropriate funds for Codified Ordinance Update.
Approved an ordinance amending the budget ordinance to appropriate funds regarding an EPA Brownfield Grant.
