Council funds Y; rejects police, library

RED OAK — Montgomery County’s YMCA will receive $56,000 after Red Oak’s City Council amended its proposed 2011 budget Monday night.

While increasing the city’s donation to the YMCA by $50,000, the Council denied requests from Police Chief Drue Powers to reinstate a previously eliminated position, and to increase wages at the library.

Powers reported the Council that the 11th full-time police officer position was cut in 2007-08 to balance the budget, and has resulted in additional overtime and use of part-time employees. He estimated the cost of hiring an additional officer at about $35,000, not including training and benefits.

The library board requested an additional $13,000 to increase wages to a level more comparable to other city employees. Specifically, the director, Kathi Wagner’s salary is about $9,000 less than other city department heads.

The Council agreed that it was the Library Board’s responsibility to find the money for additional salaries in their budget, which increased from $163,000 to $177,000 this year.

Regarding the increase in funding the YMCA, Council member Tom Pratt reported the not-for-profit organization is going to lose $81,000 this year, largely due to a decrease in membership associated with the closing of CDS.

The Council agreed the YMCA saves the City money by providing services previously handled by a recreation director, a position eliminated several years ago.

A detailed story on the meeting, and analysis of the proposed budget, will be included in next week’s Red Oak Express.