By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council split on Monday evening over increasing the city’s garbage and recycling fee by $2 a month in 2020. But the fee increase in the budget survived efforts to trash it.
Voting against the fee were Republicans Greg Robinette and Bill Herald.
Voting for the fee were Democrats Mike Aspacher, Mark Hollenbaugh, Bruce Jeffers, Sandy Rowland and John Zanfardino.
The fee increase was recommended earlier this month as a way to make up for the shortfall forecasted in the city’s budget next year. The $2 a month increase would be added to the existing $13 a month garbage and recycling fee already in place – raising an additional $133,000 a year.
Robinette praised the city administration for devising a city budget that pays for council’s priorities of providing quality police and fire services, updating the city’s zoning code, and paving more neighborhood streets next year.
However, he voiced his displeasure in the $2 a month increase, and suggested that more effort be made to find other ways in the budget to make up for the expected shortfall.
Robinette warned of a “slippery slope of fees.”
Much of the city’s projected deficit, Robinette said, is “self-inflicted.” He repeated this criticism that the city administration had not planned properly for next year’s 27 pay periods – though many governmental entities are struggling with the extra pay period.
He listed other decisions that cost the city revenue – like the extended parking holiday downtown due to the prolonged construction, and the extra cost to continue curbside recycling.
Robinette made a motion to remove the fee increase from the city’s budget.
Hollenbaugh asked if Robinette had budget cuts in mind to make up for the $133,000 that would not be generated to fill the hole in the budget. Robinette said he had no specifics in mind.
“Clearly, we would have to find another way to balance the budget,” he said. “I believe we could find other ways to close that gap.”
Jeffers reminded that City Council has much interaction with city administration about annual budgets throughout the year. He also noted that Bowling Green residents expect to see services continued, not cut.
Robinette repeated his praise for the city administration in reflecting council’s wishes by setting aside money for priorities.
“What none of us asked for, or anticipated, was this fee,” he said.
Rowland reminded that city government is often at the mercy of state budget cuts, such as major losses in Local Government Funds.
“No one on council wants to raise taxes or fees,” she said. But council often has to “take money from Peter to pay Paul.”
Hollenbaugh said the city does need to look for long-term solutions so it doesn’t have to keep raising fees.
Also at Monday’s City Council meeting, Karla Davis-McGowan was presented with the Honor Roll Award by the Bowling Green Human Relations Commission. Davis-McGowan, who works for Children’s Services in Lucas County, is involved with Not In Our Town Bowling Green, works for placement of children with foster families, and works against human trafficking.
