BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE -- Members of Independence City Council will try to put aside their political bickering Tuesday, and belatedly adopt a new budget. Last year, council adopted its annual budget four months into the new fiscal year. Even then, approval came after two hours of debate, and former Mayor Issac "Ike" Gabbard had to break a 3-3 tie.
This year, council has operated under the 1997-98 budget since the new fiscal year began July 1, again vying to become one of the last Kentucky cities to adopt a budget.
While the budget delays will not affect the day-to-day operation of the city, road repairs -- other than those needed to correct immediate safety problems -- will be delayed, and Independence may risk losing good employees if workers think their salaries are not competitive with those of neighboring communities, City Administrator Gary Scott said.
"We're working to keep morale up, but the longer this process continues, the more challenging that becomes," Independence Police Chief Ed Porter said.
Chief Porter said that the chief of the nearby, higher-paying Kenton County police department recently announced at a Kenton Fiscal Court meeting that he is "aggressively recruiting police officers from other departments."
But at least three Independence council members are hoping to bringing an end to this year's budget delay after 2 1/2 hours of budget talks Wednesday.
The proposed $2.7 million budget for Independence is about a $500,000 increase over last year's, and it includes 4 percent raises for the growing city's 27 employees. The raises are a compromise, after one faction of council proposed 3 percent raises and another sought 5 percent pay hikes.
The new budget calls for no new personnel and a continuation of existing services.
The three council members who took part in Wednesday's budget meeting said they also hope to modify personnel policies to give employees more paid time off.
"In the past, the majority of council had no confidence in how the budget was put together," Council member Kenneth Weber said. "Now that Mr. Gabbard has resigned, I'm hoping there can be some movement on the budget and other issues."
Mr. Gabbard resigned Aug. 1, after more than a year of ouster pressure from foes.
After a 1954 conviction for receiving stolen property, Mr. Gabbard lost his voting rights. He later had them restored in Ohio, but they weren't restored in Kentucky in time for his 1993 candidacy to become legal.
While Mr. Gabbard has vowed to run again in November, he will have at least two opponents -- council members Jaimie Henson and Rebecca Weber.
"Council, under the former mayor, didn't get a budget until the last minute," council member Scott Holten said. "I'm hopeful that that situation will change now."
