Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Lebanon council OKs budget
Two top management positions cut
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
LEBANON — The city will lose two top administrators in the coming year after a divided council adopted a 2000 budget that cuts the deputy city manager and assistant to the city manager positions.
The move cost Deputy City Manager Ed Patterson and Sherry Callahan, assistant to the city manager, their jobs. City Planner Marty Kohler's job was also eliminated in the budget.
Mr. Patterson, a former Lebanon mayor and councilman, has been deputy city manager since February. Mr. Koehler and Mrs. Callahan have been with the city for several years.
Council members debated the budget about 30 minutes before approving it on a 5-2 vote. Vice Mayor Amy Brewer and Councilman Joe McKenzie voted against the $48 million budget.
Mr. McKenzie said the budget did not reflect the vision of council, especially because it cuts the deputy city manager post. That job was created about 18 months ago to handle day-to-day city operations, freeing the city manager for such tasks as economic development, lobbying and long-term city planning.
“That really did not get implemented,” Mr. McKenzie said.
Ms. Brewer wanted council to have a better consen sus before approving the budget.
But Councilman Mark Flick, chairman of council's Finance Committee, said the budget is balanced and supports some capital improvement projects, such as road and utility improvements.
“It doesn't go into any areas and deplete reserve funds,” he said. “This budget doesn't rob Peter to pay Paul. In general, the budget does its job.”
The budget, though tight, does not affect city services, said Councilman James Reinhard.
“Unfortunately, administration is one area which is susceptible to these types of budget cuts,” he said. “I think that these budget decisions are not easy decisions.”
But resident Mary Klei urged council to avoid the cuts, saying the city would lose experience that is difficult to replace. “They are why Lebanon runs so smoothly,” she said.
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