Peekskill Common Council Approves Budget for 2013

A process that began with a maelstrom of public sentiment ended quietly Thursday night when the Peekskill Common Council unanimously approved its budget for 2013.

The spending plan calls for $35.4 million general fund. In addition, about $1.28 million has been budgeted for the city's sewer fund, $7.9 million for Section 8 and $6.6 million for the water fund.
The spending plan represents a 3.82 percent tax levy increase and the average taxpayer would pay about $73 a year more in taxes.

The plan also calls for 18 layoffs, the merger of payroll and personnel finance functions, the preservation of full time at the Kiley Center the city's pre-school and recreation programs. The city’s planning, economic development, building and code enforcement departments and clerical staff would also be combined.

“This budget is a fraud, the mayor caved into the unions, to the DPW union, the police union and the firefighters union,” said George Ondek, one of the few people who attended Thursday’s meeting. “She picked on the administrative people and most of the layoffs where them.”

Here’s a rundown of some the position changes that have been made to next year’s general fund budget due to layoffs and retirements and the expected savings in salary and benefits. A more general list can also be found in the photo attached to this story.

• The city economic development specialist is moving from an employee to a contracted position for a savings of about $75,000 in salary and benefits.
• An accountant’s position for a savings of about $85,000.
• A general foreman’s position for a savings of about $135,000.
• A junior engineering aide position for a savings of about $114,000.
• The assistant to the city manager for human resources position  for a savings of $131,000.
• The administrative assistant to the assistant to the city manager for HR for a savings of about $132,00.
• A police lieutenant’s position was slashed for a saving of about $100,000.
• A park ranger was cut for a savings of about $89,000.
• Senior office assistant to the DPW was cut for a savings of about $97,000.
• A senior data entry operator for planning was cut for a savings of about $78,000.
• A data entry operator position was cut for a saving of about $73,000.
• A meter operator for a savings of about $86,000.
• Senior office assistant for a savings of about $82,000.
• Eliminating the police captain position for savings of about $190,000.
• Moving the commercial loan officer from the general fund to another funding line for a savings about $125,000.
• Assessment clerk for a savings of about $107,000.

• An assistant building inspector for a savings of $113,000.