BUDGET BATTLE NO CLEARER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY OR IN MAY

by Michael Monks
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Maybe twenty-five positions within Covington's city government will be eliminated. Maybe they won't. Perhaps public unions, representing police, fire and public works will offer concessions on health care. Perhaps not. And possibly, none of this is necessary.

"This budget makes available $1 million for public safety projects," said City Manager Larry Klein. "Not flower pots, but ambulances and police cars."

"You can have the finest equipment in the world, but if there’s no one to operate them (what’s the point?)," countered firefighter Mike Holtman, leader of Local 38, the union representing the fire department.

The topic of potential retirements, including that of Holtman, within the departments affected by budget cuts may save the jobs of others. Holtman indicated that up to eleven employees, himself included, are considering retirement later this summer. The layoffs in the budget contingency plan approved by the City Commission in May have not been assigned a date at which time they would take effect.


Tuesday night’s meeting was the first reading of an updated "proposed" budget that changes employee contributions to health care. A final vote is set for less than twenty-four hours later on Wednesday night.
The City must fill a projected $4.2 million dollar deficit in next year’s budget. Klein and Finance Director Bob Due have proposed cutting $1.2 million from the police department, $1.5 million from the fire department, and nearly $900,000 from public works. Ten firefighters, four police officers, and eight public works employees would be laid off. Twelve vacant positions between all three departments would be eliminated without having been filled.
"This is a watershed moment in Covington history," Klein said. "This budget rebuilds financial reserves to build Covington’s credit rating. We have a long way to go and we have to begin somewhere."
A local arts leader spoke out against the plan using her own organization, when faced with a deficit, as an example of what should be done at City Hall to change the financial course. "We found ways to make more money," said Katie Brass, executive director of the Carnegie Performing Arts Center. "I hope you can find ways to do that. What’s the plan to make more money?"

The conversation then turned to that now-familiar ominous warning that multiple high-profile companies are considering bolting town to accept "incentives" to relocate elsewhere.

"A number of people are being lured away and sometimes you don’t have money to compete in the big leagues," Commissioner Steve Frank explained.

"This budget allows us to invest in infrastructure to make us more attractive to businesses," added Commissioner Sherry Carran.


Negotiations between the City and the public unions will continue even after Wednesday night’s vote.