The Gary Common Council, at its Tuesday meeting, hosted a public hearing for five budget-related ordinances.
All ordinances were on final reading, but Parliamentarian Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, motioned for another reading at the finance committee’s upcoming 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 meeting.
Council members unanimously voted to postpone the vote. Members Mary Brown, D-3rd, and Dwight Williams, D-6th, were both absent.
Although the budget vote had been postponed, council members were told the body still needed a public hearing on Tuesday because it was publicly advertised.
“All of these dates are published in Gateway, which is a public transparency portal,” President Lori Latham, D-1st, said. “Once we publish those dates in Gateway, we can’t reschedule them. … Even though we’re sending these ordinances back to committee, we’re allowing the public to speak on them today.”
Budgets discussed include the redevelopment commission, Gary/Chicago International Airport, Gary Public Transportation Corporation and the city’s general fund.
The council is expected to approve all budget ordinances by the end of October. Council members meet biweekly, but the final meeting is Oct. 28 after they unanimously approved to move the meeting due to scheduling conflicts.
Gary resident Bruce Curry spoke about the city’s general budget, saying he would like to see the city progress and take care of its public employees, especially while the U.S. government is shut down.
“We should be very expeditious and pay our police officers, firemen and service people in Gary, because a lot of people out there are going to lose their jobs, and that’s going to trickle down,” Curry said. “You know we have the money, so do the right thing. That’s all I ask.”
Another Gary resident, Kwabena Rasuli, also commented on the city’s general fund, specifically the parks budget. He wants to ensure that the city will continue to improve parks throughout Gary.
According to budget documents, the total parks budget is about $1.67 million, which is less than $1,000 more than last year. More than $920,000 will go toward personal services, including pay, insurance and unemployment compensation.
“I just want to make sure that some of that money goes for things that our children can do again in our community,” Rasuli said. “Make some progress, let’s continue it, and let’s make sure that happens with some of this money.”
Councilman Darren Washington, D-at large, spoke about the airport budget, specifically how the airport is in a TIF district. The Lake County Convention Center, once it’s built, will also be in the TIF district, Washington said.
“Once that area begins to develop and grow, and the value grows for the TIF, that money doesn’t go to the general fund,” Washington said. “That money goes to the airport.”
During last year’s budget session, the Gary Common Council reverted the Gary/Chicago International Airport’s budget to its previous numbers after it hadn’t passed the proposed numbers.
Washington recommends that the city look at the TIF districts and said he’s worried that money might not go to police and fire funds.
“There are ways for us to get money back into that general fund,” he added.