Olean Mayor comments on tonight's meeting...and Council President Jim Brady

When it comes to the Olean city budget, Mayor Linda Witte says it should be an open process, with frank and direct conversations. But she admits she was surprised when Common Council President Jim Brady placed an item on tonight’s meeting agenda which proposes to cut $100,000 from the fire department budget. The Mayor says the budget she presented has a zero per cent tax increase and already cut into fire department spending. When asked if she thought the debate was getting too contentious, she said it’s all a part of the process.

OIean budget talks heat up

Budget talks heated up in Olean last night as the city’s finance committee reviewed the Mayors spending plan. Republican Jim Brady questioned why spending was up more than $2 million.  He seemed to take aim at fire department costs and employee’s benefits.  Brady told the committee that costs and benefits could be cut…and he said it could result in a double digit tax decrease. Under the Mayors current plan, there is a zero per cent proposed tax increase. Mayor Linda Witte said the city had to contend with several budget items it had no control over…to include pensions.

Olean Mayor to present budget next week

Mayor Linda Witte will present her 20-12/20-13 budget to the Common Council next week. So far, more than $300,000 has been cut. That’s nearly a wash for projected increases in contributions the city must make for retirement funds for civil service workers and the police and fire departments. Those costs will also likely surge even more for the next budget cycle. Budget prep work has been ongoing for months.