Lorain/Elyria, OH
Elyria faces deep cuts if tax fails
Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
ELYRIA — The police chief says he’ll lose a fourth of his department. The acting fire chief figures his department will end up staffing only one of its four stations.
Those will be the realities, they say, if voters defeat the city’s effort on the November ballot to renew a longstanding income tax. The same issue was rejected overwhelmingly in March.
If defeated, the city will lose the $6 million a year raised by the tax, which has been in place since the 1970s and provides a good chunk of the city’s general fund. To combat the loss, cuts will have to be made, and they’ll likely be centered on the police and fire departments.
“It would be premature to say what kinds of cuts would be made in what departments, but police and fire make up well over half of general fund expenses, and aside from a few grants, there is no revenue that comes into those departments to offset the cost,” Mayor Bill Grace said. “Recognizing that, should we not have the income tax revenue, an overwhelming amount of cuts would come from those departments.”
That reality has Police Chief Michael Medders wondering daily what choices he might have to make if his department’s budget takes the colossal hit.
“It’s no probably about it. We would have no choice but to lay people off,” he said. “I’m getting about $7.5 million from the general fund, and even though I know we are down to just 87 officers, I’m guessing the number would be about 21 to 23 officers would have to be let go.”
Such a move would drastically affect response time in a city that handles about 40,000 calls per year.
“If we have to lose that many officers, we will still have to handle our calls, but we would have to start stacking them,” Medders said. “That means if it’s not a life-or-death call, we would have to get to it when we can. That’s not how we like to operate, because when people call us, they want to see us in a timely fashion.”
Auditor Ted Pileski, who spends his days going over the city’s finances, said he knows city residents would prefer cuts in other departments if the budget had to be slashed.
However, he also knows that to balance the budget without the income tax revenue, he would have to go after the biggest departments first.
“I know what people are saying, but I could start at the law director’s office and lose everyone on the list going down and still not have $6 million,” Pileski said Oct. 17 as he went over a summary report detailing how the general fund was doled out in 2008. “You can’t cut into a budget like this without losing some people. We would have to go to where the employees are because that is where most of the money is.”
While the Police Department receives funding from a dedicated tax levy, it still received 21.97 percent of the general fund in 2008. And Medders said he spends roughly 87 percent of his budget on wages and salaries.
“We don’t have a lot of fluff in the department,” he said.
The Police Department’s funding is only slightly behind the Fire Department’s 26.18 percent portion of the general fund, which in 2008 included $1 million to cover the cost of a new ladder truck.
In the short time he has served as interim fire chief, Joe Pronesti said he has quickly educated himself about just how important the income tax renewal is to the Fire Department.
While he will not be the one to make decisions for the department should the renewal fail — Pronesti will return to the position of captain on Nov. 9 — he said he knows the department can’t sustain another cut.
The decision a year ago to drop minimum manning from 17 firefighters to 14 essentially made it impossible to keep Fire Station No. 2 open. Losing more firefighters — including the seven newly hired ones — to layoff will make it impossible to keep all three of the other stations open.
“My recommendation would be to go down to one station and handle the calls together like that,” Pronesti said. “I won’t be the chief when it comes down to making that decision, but I know from experience that we won’t be able to run the stations we have if we lose more guys because that tax goes down.”
Elyria Municipal Court, which employs 40 full-time workers, receives the next biggest amount of the budget, 8.01 percent. However, Pileski said drastic cuts could not be made to there because the judges could just order the fund restored.
Grace said that Parks and Recreation, another large department with 43 employees and 6.96 percent of the budget, also would see cuts, possibly to the programs offered by the city.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
Print this story
Report an innappropriate comment
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered,
click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.
Why not create a new tax that can only be used to support police and fire and does not go to the general fund then Mayor Dis-Grace can’t get his hands on it. I wonder what the legal ramifications will be if the police and fire are cut as proposed and the IT department is expanded and people are getting raises. Seems to me that the Mayor has responsibilities to protect the city before playing with the IT department. Does anyone else find it funny that no where in the article did it mention cutting anything close to the Mayor! Again, if the police is going to loose so much money , let the officers drive there own cars to and from work, at current fuel prices this would have to be a big savings. I don’t understand how the Mayor can be so blind to not think the citizens of Elyria don’t realize how much money he wastes on making Elyria PRETTY , and Elyria being pretty is not going to mean squat if there is no police and fire protection. Does he think new business is going to want to move here with no fire dept to protect the millions of dollars of equipment that they use to run manufacturing and such. This city is going down fast , and the Mayor can put the spin on it to make the citizens of Elyria at fault all he wants , but in all reality it is all his own doings ! Times are tough for everyone , we all have to make cutbacks in our budgets, no reason the mayor cant cut some of his fat!
(Report comment)
I am so tired of the “safety of our citizens” being held over our head. My plan is to vote against this renewal and invest in extra fire extinguishers and LEAD!!!!
(Report comment)
Why not turn the city Parks Dept. over to the county parks? That should prove to be a big savings. The county parks are run efficiently, I don’t mind their tax levies.
(Report comment)
Ok first thing first the vote for issue 15 it just renews it is is NOT A INCREASE!!!! This will stop us from losing the officers. Second I want to ssay that driving a police car home doesn’t matter in this sistuation… There are only a few officers that do and that is the sargents and the senior police officers. This is only if they live a certain distance from the department… The officers are the ones who pay for the gas. They have to swipe a card that goes to their car and pay for that gas they put in it. If they live outside of Elyria city limits they have to pay for their gas and pay for their miliage. I know some may disagree with me but I know first hand that is what they have to do. I think that us losing officers will do nothing but bad for the police department and the city… The Police department haven’t gone over budget and are being cut to help the fire department budget… Why not cut some of the offices or staff in the city? Why do secretaries need secretaries or the mayor need a new car every so often that the city pays for? When the huge fire happened in Elyria why did the fire department go pick up the mayor why couldn’t he dive their him self. I haven’t seen where the fire department has sufford with the cuts it has had. They still go to calls for fire they still go to calls and turn around. The police department may get new cars every once in awhile but the fire department gets new things everytime we turn around… If all of Elyria can be handeled by 87 police officers I think that a fire department could be handled by 2 1/2 fire departments? If everyone would pull together and vote for the renewal then there wouldn’t be this problem.. If they don’t we will lose these officers and still pay them unemployment.. Think about it would you rather pay for them to be on unemployment or would you rather pay them to be on the streets protecting and serving us? Elyria is making Elyria a bad place to live.. The mayor isn’t helping but again Elyria voted for him to be mayor again…. So instead of losing something that people are going to bit@h about then do something about it vote for the renewal! Grace can only be in office for his tem after that it is up to Elyria to find someone else. Just like the presidential election the Us votes someone in, pay the consequences, then try the next president. You have to give something to recieve something… The police went to 12 hour shifts where officers work 3 on and 4 off. This is a awesome improvement for them it is a less stressful environment for them and less officers are calling off. So instead of being the cause of the cuts why not be the effect of renewal. that way you can’t bit@c about the cuts since you didn’t vote for them. I have faimily on both departments so I live this election and the fears of cuts first hand….
(Report comment)
I would say most , if not all the Elyria police drive there vehicles home , if not then we would only need about 10 cruisers and a hell of allot less fuel. They also use the cruisers when they do side jobs as rent-a-cops, on several occasions i have seen the doing side work for pauls beverage warehouse on lake avenue, in the winter time, they leave the cruiser run while the cop is working his part time job so the cruiser is warm for him when he gets off and he don’t have to clean the windows like ordinary people do. There is so much waste going on in this city it is mind boggling and all they do is cry for more more more .. enough is enough …….
(Report comment)
I myself feel that if the city cuts the police officers down this city is just going to get worse then what it already is. Like they stated previous this is not a tax increase. All its going to do is help the city out. The amount of jobs that they are talking about cutting is just rediculous. I myself know many people that work for the city and their jobs are on the line its very scary. As bad as the enonomy is now its just going to get worse. The sad thing is that Mayor Dis-Grace isn’t even promoting the levy. Just like last time no one knew what it was even about. That is the reason why it failed, if they want it to pass he needs to promote aliltle more.
(Report comment)
People who vote know exactly what this levy is about.. The people who dont vote have no clue and they are usually the biggest complainers and will be the ones talked into signing a petition with the wording AT THE BOTTOM. Nice to conceal what they are passing.
The bottomline is, this will pass and the recall with have NOTHING to stand on.
The Mayor is promoting this, I have recieved 3 pieces of literature on it, of course I am a registered voter too.
Haxor, “you would say”? Hahahaha. But you DONT KNOW and you are wrong. But I geuss you already know that.
People, dont be part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
VOTE YES ON ISSUE 15.
(Report comment)
The Police get cut if the renewal fails. The Fire Department too. But nowhere, does it state that the mayor’s staff gets cut. I didn’t vote for mayor Grace, never will. If this is his example of running the city efficiently, then maybe it is time to recall this guy. Maybe we should find someone who knows HOW to tighten budgets in a bad economy. It is obvious, that Mayor Grace, does not.
(Report comment)
Hmm I haven’t received any information on it and I am a registerd voter the only reason I know about it is because I work for the city.
(Report comment)
Spidey , I have been all over Lorain county and there are Elyria police cruisers parked in many driveways , and a couple that are not even in Lorain county. So you can try to spew your bullshiet all you want but not everyone is as gullible as you are. You can defend the mayor and warm your nose with him all you want but that does not make what you spew true and i am willing to bet that 99% of the people on this forum will agree with me on that .Its time the mayor makes some cuts in his departments, the safety forces is not the place to do it. If safety forces are the first to be cut and some one is hurt or killed because of it , and it can be shown that the mayor created new departments and gave raises while cutting safety forces that is a clear case of negligence , i think even you are smart enough to see where this could go !
(Report comment)
The sky is falling, the sky is falling. No, Henny-Penny, the sky is not falling. Yes, this tax will take away $6 million per year if it fails. But that does not mean we will need to cut $6 million from the budget next year. All these drastic cuts mentioned by the police and fire chiefs would not happen next year. The tax does not expire until the end of June 2009, which means there is plenty of time left to send the message to city hall and city council to change the way they are spending our money. I’m tired of them not listening to us. They would need to prepare a budget that has $3 million in cuts next year, but those cuts would be backed off to the second half of the year in the hopes that the voters would pass the renewal in May. If they write the budget the correct way and shift spending to more services and less fat for our friends, then we should pass the renewal next year. But it should not pass this time around. They’ve had all year to get it right and we’ve seen them do nothing but fight with residents, fight with businesses, hire more Rothgerys into city hall and give pay raises. (sure, consolidating the departments saved some money, but there was no need to give pay raises. that was even more money that could have been saved).
I already voted no on Issue 15 and I encourage everyone else to do the same. If you are not happy with the way the city is spending its money, if your street is in bad shape and nobody seems to listen, if you are tired of seeing people at city hall get pay raises or double-dipping or get hired because of their last name, you should vote no on Issue 15 and send a message to the mayor and council that it is time to change there ways!
(Report comment)
Please address your comments to me at chrissito@sitoinsurance.com or call 725-5775. Very busy these days and it is too difficult to chase down reply’s on other sites etc.
That way you can be accountable for your comments and we can have a real discussion. No Names are really bringing these sites down. All the no names.
Have a great day!
(Report comment)
Thats pretty good Sito considering you have been kicked off numerous other sites hiding behind screen names.
A few scorned individuals? You will see come Nov 5 how few these individuals are.
And be careful Sito before your closet full of secrets are opened for everyone to see. UPC.
(Report comment)
Molli, post facts please.
(Report comment)
Why is it necessary to pit fire vs police? There is a need for them both. I imagine that both departments have few incidents that would be considered extremely dangerous. But enough to make sure we have enough of each to handle one if it comes. But both departments should be staffed to function properly given a true emergency. It gets so old hearing about fire department scams and other nonsense. Given the fact that the fire dept doors are open at all times to government officials I’m sure those so-called abuses would have been taken care of. If not, shame on the administration and council.
Vote the way you need to, but don’t vote for or against it for some of the stupid, no evidence/documentation reasons that have been posted on numerous sites about the EFD or EPD.
(Report comment)
You get what you pay for with taxes or no Taxes.
You get who YOU elect in office.
You did a bad job voting for both.
(Report comment)
Chris Sito or Spidey, the facts are simple. My husband and I, along with many of our fellow residents, were polled on the telephone and told the survey people that we want more streets paved, more police and more fire. I called my council representatives and told them the same thing. I don’t appreciate your fake names or your condescending tones. That is one of many reasons why you are not sitting on council right now. I find it very hypocritical of you to be on the Planning Commission when your own business looks so terrible and is an eyesore. I hope that Jerry Klein comes out to cite you and tell you to fix the place up. I would think you should have more pride as a local business owner than to have such an eyesore for people coming to our community.
The fact remains that defeat of this issue will only eliminate $3 million next year and it won’t happen until June 30, so there will still be time to salvage even that if the budget becomes more services-friendly instead of administration-supporter friendly.
There is a reason why we will never make this permanent and you are looking at that reason. The people will keep control to make sure that the government works for the people instead of there own self-serving interests.
(Report comment)
Do you really want council representatives to come out and oppose the income tax renewal? That doesn’t sound like a good idea if you want to have a prayer in passing it. You think like a man, all bluster without giving any real thought to what you are saying.
What council members do not support Issue 15? I want to call them and thank them. Your right, let’s make it public who supports it and who does not. Let’s make a big big deal out of it so that there supporters think twice and don’t support it either. Maybe we can get Lisa Roberson to do an article about it too and put it on the front page.
(Report comment)
Has ANYONE else noticed that ALL threatened cuts target the BLUE collar workers, NOT any WHITE COLLAR or administration? In some instances, 3 Blue collar may equal 1 Administrations pay and benefits.
(Report comment)
Molli, please post FACTS. You have not. The 3 million dollar cuts wont take place in July as you FALSELY stated. They will take place Jan. 1. Call the auditor and get your facts and stop lying. Also you and your husband had a choice, and you made yours, thats your right. Its a shame your hurting the city.
By the way, why do you refer to me as Sito? I am not. But Molli or Cheryl or whatever fake name you use, I appreciate the compliment.
(Report comment)
Just a question Sito.
How badly did you lose in your bid to become a councilperson?
Was it twice you got trounced?
Is this why you try to trash Mr. Gibbs all the time?
All of you people who are trying to say that Mr. Gibbs and
Mr. Craig are not supporting issue 15, try to get it through your thick skulls they are supporting issue 15 just not to the wording of the letter sent to Mayor Disgrace’s newspaper.
While they are supporting issue 15 I urge everyone to vote no and not submit to Mayor Disgrace’s scare tatics.
Make Mayor Disgrace accountable. He has shown that he cannot be trusted with the community’s tax dollars.
When it comes time and the petition for the recall of Mayor Disgrace is being circulated I URGE EVERYONE TO SIGN IT AND GET THIS POOR EXCUSE OF A LEADER OUT OF OFFICE.
(Report comment)