Despite complaints, Gary approves 2020 city budget
After griping over changes and consultant contracts, the Gary City Council approved a 2020 budget Tuesday with a $56.3 million general fund — $2.8 million higher than last year.
The final vote was 6-3 with council members LaVetta Sparks Wade, D-6th; Rebecca Wyatt, D-1st; and Carolyn Rogers, D-4th, dissenting. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said the budget reflects actual costs for utilities and phone services. That budget item increased from $4.87 million to $7.56 million.
With the city mired in deficits for the past several years, Freeman-Wilson expressed hope that the infusion of cash from a soon-tobe finalized leaseback deal would stave off the financial crisis.
“It will ultimately place the city on a solid financial foundation. While it doesn’t eliminate all debt, it allows us to go into the next year without having a deficit,” said Freeman-Wilson. In presenting her final budget after two terms as mayor, she outlined the changes to the council and apologized to union workers. She said changes offered by her administration violated the terms of the city’s contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
“The contract provides for a 14-day notice. That was not done. I take full responsibility for that,” said Freeman-Wilson. “It’s nothing I or this administration takes lightly.”
The action drew criticism from Sparks-Wade, who like Freeman-Wilson, took part in her final budget review.
“I don’t know any city that addresses its deficit by increasing it,” she said.
“But I didn’t appreciate the blatant disregard for union this year. This is not a neophyte administration. This is a union environment. We have to abide by the rules.”
Sparks-Wade took issue with the elimination of a front desk worker at the Hudson-Campbell Fitness Center. She said the reason for the job cut was declining revenue at the fitness center.
“None of our departments are self-sustaining. That’s what taxes are for…,” she said.
She also criticized the administration for its reliance on paid consultants.
Rogers echoed SparksWade’s remarks.
“It really hurts my heart to see what our park system looks like … We need to look at department head salaries. These are public service positions. We can’t and should not have department heads making the kind of money they make in corporate,” she said.
“We can’t have it both ways and give raises and make the bottom line,” said council president Ron Brewer, D-at-large. “The council has the power to decrease the budget… there’s something you can do.”
Meanwhile, Gary/Chicago International Airport executive director Duane Hayden, who’s been criticized for seeking a $12,000 salary increase, offered an overview of activity at the airport.
Hayden apologized for failing to appear at the council’s Oct. 15 meeting for his budget review.
He clarified his raise request. “No increase has been approved by the airport board for my salary. I only sought to provide that as an option,” he said.
Hayden said the airport supports the city by hiring local workers and contractors. He said landing and fuel fees have increased since 2014. He also cited investments in construction from the airport’s two fixed base operators.
“Steps have been taken that are beginning to bear fruit,” he said.
The airport budget passed by a 6-3 margin with Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, joining Sparks-Wade and Wyatt in dissent. Barnes-Caldwell said she disagreed with Hayden’s raise proposal.
The council unanimously approved the budget for the Gary Public Transit Corp. that reflects no increases in fares, despite an anticipated 10 percent drop in revenue in 2020, said controller Tonisha Sibley.
New GPTC general manager and Gary native Jerome Parker introduced himself.
“I’m blessed to come back and run the transit system where I started 41 years ago. I want to do everything I can do in my power to make Gary Transit a viable public transportation organization.”