All eyes were on city council as members discussed the budget.
By Nancy Peckenham
By a vote of 3-to-1, the Newburgh city council adopted a $19.4 million budget on Monday that will result in the layoff of seven city police officers unless a last-minute deal can be reached with the police union.
The new budget keeps a lid on tax increases for city property owners, who saw a big jump in taxes this year. The 2011 tax increase for homestead property owners will be 1.24 percent, while that for non-homestead property owners will be 7.32 percent.
Councilwoman Christine Bello, who voted against the budget, criticized the elimination of the police officers’ positions, aiming her words at the city’s acting manager, Richard Herbek, who is the chief negotiator with the union. “I don’t know if you have been mugged or had a kid shot in front of your home,” she said, “you go home to Green Acres.”
Councilwoman Marge Bell abstained from the budget vote, repeating her criticism of the city’s failure to look for new revenue sources.
PBA attorney Paul Weber addresses the council.
Mayor Nicholas Valentine sounded optimistic about still reaching a last-minute deal with the police union that would save the officers’ jobs. He described how the city fire department made concessions that saved jobs last year. “We have time to put officers back into next year’s budget if we have good and fair negotiations through the end of the year,” Valentine said.
Attorney Paul Weber, who is leading the union’s negotiations, told the council that approving the budget with the police layoffs is “just another poor decision of the council without any forethought.” He said that when fewer police are on the streets, “bad guys pay attention, too.” Police chief Michael Ferrara later agreed with him, saying the department needs more officers, not less.
None of the dozen or so police officers in the city council chambers spoke during the meeting.
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