Editor's Note: The article was corrected to properly identify Alderman Terell Wilson.

In a series of split votes on Monday, the City Council agreed with Mayor Deberey Hinchey's proposal to increase the school budget by nearly $1.7 million, but aldermen rejected her plan to cut police replacement overtime costs and a fire clerk position, resulting in a proposed 2.5-mill tax increase.

Hinchey called the proposed 41.05-mill citywide tax rate "not sustainable," and called on fellow council members to reconsider her proposed cuts to lessen the tax burden or come up with other reductions before the council votes on the final budget in June. Hinchey said she proposed her cuts now to allow voters to comment on the changes at next Monday's 6:30 p.m. budget public hearing.

Hinchey called the proposed 41.05-mill citywide tax rate “not sustainable,” and called on fellow council members to reconsider her proposed cuts to lessen the tax burden or come up with other reductions before the council votes on the final budget in June. Hinchey said she proposed her cuts now to allow voters to comment on the changes at next Monday’s 6:30 p.m. budget public hearing.

“Somebody in the next three weeks has to come up with other ways,” Hinchey said of reducing the tax rate. “That’s what I was trying to do tonight.”

With Monday’s votes on the mayor’s proposed changes, the council approved a preliminary total combined city and school budget of $121,389,442, as opposed to acting City Manager John Bilda’s $119.7 million total. The new school budget would be an even $74 million, a 2.54 percent increase compared to this year’s $71.6 million total.

Aldermen supported the school budget increase in a 6-1 vote, with Alderwoman Sofee Noblick voting against the funding.

More controversial were Hinchey’s proposal to offset part of the school budget increase by cutting $202,900 from the police department replacement account – overtime used to pay officers to cover for vacations and other leave time. Bilda already had recommended cutting $132,000 from the replacement account, leaving $800,000 in the budget.

Police Chief Louis Fusaro opposed the cut during the public comment section of Monday's meeting, saying the department’s overall plan to reduce crime in the city was working, and replacement costs were part of that effort. He said crime was down 12 percent in the past year.

Fusaro said if the cuts were made, he would have to pull officers from community policing positions or leave some beats uncovered during vacations.

“This cut is going to make a mockery of what we’re trying to do,” Fusaro said.

Alderman Mark Bettencourt at first suggested tabling action on the cut to allow time to review information provided by Fusaro on police staffing, but the council had to adopt a preliminary budget Monday with a vote on the issue.

Aldermen voted 6-1 against cutting the replacement budget after a lengthy discussion on that item, with Alderman Terell Wilson voting for the cut. But Bettencourt and Hinchey said the cut could be considered again when the council makes its final budget decision no later than June 8.

Aldermen also kept the $65,581 in the police budget to pay for a new crime analyst position in a 5-2 vote, with Hinchey and Wilson voting to cut the new position.

A proposal to cut an existing fire code clerk position drew less discussion but a more contentious 4-3 vote, with Aldermen William Nash, Hinchey and Wilson opposing keeping the position.

“I understand about the fire department,” Wilson said. “I understand about the police, but our children are our future.”

c.bessette@theday.com

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