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.

Olean Alderman Jim Brady to propose $100,000 cut to Olean City Fire Department

Olean's Finance Committee met this past week to discuss the Mayors proposed budget when dust got kicked up again. Mayor Linda Witte's (D-Olean) plan calls for a 0% tax increase, but Council member Jim Brady (R-Olean) says the city can do better. When the city's Committee of the Whole meets next week, he'll be asking for a noteworthy cut to the fire department. The agenda item reads...

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 6:30 P.M.

Council Chambers – Olean Municipal Building

AGENDA

1.     PL#06-12: (Brady) to reduce the Fire Department Budget by $100,000, or about 2.5% in the preliminary budget submitted to the Common Council on February 7, 2012. The savings will be used to reduce the tax rate by approximately 1.4%

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.