The Plymouth Common Council is being told to cut $2 million from the city’s proposed 2017 budget. Council members took a look at the budget during a work session Monday.
Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver says some cuts will have to be made to the proposed $12.6-million budget, if the city’s going to avoid dipping into its cash reserves for day-to-day expenses.
“As a council you’ve held to the mayor’s budget and you’ve held spending. But you cannot keep spending $2 million more than what you’re getting and keep up. I mean, eventually, you’re going to run into that wall, and you’re not going to be able to give raises. You’re not going to be able to buy equipment. You’re not going to be able to repair the fire truck. You’re not going to be able to maintain the services that you’re providing now.”
Pay raises for many city employees are included in the proposed 2017 budget.
Another challenge facing the city is funding for Fire Department vehicle replacements. Fire Chief Rod Miller says he plans to spend up to $175,000 next year to rebuild one of the city’s ambulances. But beyond that, Miller says the city will have to replace some more expensive firetrucks over the next few years.
He says that money usually comes from his department’s share of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund.
“I’ve seen this wall coming, that this Cume Cap Fund is not going to be able to keep buying firetrucks and ambulances at the rate and the expenses that they are now.”
Another potential expense for the city in 2017 is the Police Department’s proposal to start allowing more of its officers to take home their police cars, rather than sharing them with another officer. Police Chief Dave Bacon says the change would allow the cars to stay in service longer, saving costs over time. However, it also means that when Plymouth buys new police cars next year, it wouldn’t be trading in any of its old ones.
