NORMAN — The Norman City Council adopted a budget for the 2011 fiscal year, sparing 26 workers from the unemployment ranks during a long meeting Tuesday evening.
To save the jobs, council adopted 18 amendments to the original budget submitted by City Manager Steve Lewis back in April.
The mood, however, was anything but celebratory.
Councilman Doug Cubberley, chair of the Finance Committee, voted against the budget — the only member of council to do so — and called it “imprudent.” He said the city has a basic problem: It spends more than it takes in.
“We don’t have the revenues to support the programs we offer today,” Cubberley said. “Norman will suffer as a result of the (18) amendments.”
Mayor Cindy Rosenthal also tempered the mood, admitting what council did Tuesday night was far from a fix.
“We have avoided some tough decisions tonight,” Rosenthal said, adding that shortfalls next fiscal year are expected to run well into the millions. “What we’re going to have next year is a tough time.”
When a city employee attending the meeting questioned whether the 96-hour-per-year furlough program was still a part of the budget, he was told that it was. The man reminded city officials that the furlough program — projected to save the city about $2 million next year — has to be approved by the unions.
Rosenthal told the audience that if the unions — fire, police and non-uniformed — don’t accept the furlough program, there are going to be problems. She said the city’s finances will likely demand it.
“If we don’t get that agreement, we’re going to be back here again this year (to make budget changes),” Rosenthal said, adding that deeper cuts may be needed by then if the economy continues to sputter along.
Councilman Hal Ezzell also warned that things could get worse, saying that long-term projections show a city with “systemic” financial problems that need to be dealt with.
“The budget we adopt tonight is not carved in stone,” Ezzell said. “It is subject to review.”
Council approved amendments totaling $1.3 million, including moving $650,000 from the Water and Wastewater utility funds (via increased franchise fees) to the general fund, increasing traffic fines for certain infractions (expected to generate about $440,000 each year) and moving $335,000 from the capital fund to the general fund to pay city workers who work on capital projects. Smaller increases, like increasing greens fees at Westwood, were also detailed during the meeting.
Council also adopted an ordinance, upon first reading, calling for a special election Aug. 24 to vote up or down trash and water rate hikes.
Water rates for residential users would increase beginning Oct. 1 and two more times in the next three years if voters approve the increases. Commercial customers would see rate increases, as well.
Sanitation rates for residents would go up $1 per month each year for the next three years, while commercial customers would see similar hikes.
If approved, the rate hikes for trash service also would go into effect Oct. 1.
Resident Jeanette Coker suggested moving the election to November to increase participation, while City Attorney Jeff Bryant said the Aug. 24 election date “made the most sense” for the city.
