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Proposed job cuts, parking fees trump discussion at Scranton city council meeting

SCRANTON – Job reductions and proposed increased parking meter fees and fines in the city’s drafted $77 million 2010 budget came under fire at city council’s meeting Tuesday night.

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Shelby Fisk / The Times Leader

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Bill Courtright, outgoing councilman and elected city tax collector, expressed concern that the Scranton Single Tax Office is targeted for job cuts under the proposed budget prepared by Mayor Chris Doherty and city business administrator Stu Renda.

According to the budget, six of a total of 30 positions are proposed to be eliminated in the tax office: an auditor, calculator, two clerks and a solicitor. The chief clerk’s duties will be absorbed by a controller who will also have more responsibilities, under the proposal.

“The public trust is gone from the tax office because there was supposedly $12 million found,” Courtright said. He argued that the office needs to have sufficient resources to work at resolving that matter as well as conduct normal city business and collect taxes.
As of this point, he said he is uncertain of what that undertaking will require.

“I won’t know until I get there,” Courtright said.

“My whole reason for running for that office was to see if I could go over there and straighten it all out,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a difficult job. I think I can do it, but I need the work force to do it.”

Last year’s budget totaled $78,657,754 and this year’s budget is $77,778,746.

The budget calls for no tax increase, but also proposes to raise meter parking fees from 25 cents to 50 cents for 30 minutes. General parking fines would also increase from $10 to $20.

Residents expressed concerns that hiking parking fees and fines will hurt existing businesses and deter prospective businesses considering locating to the city.

The first draft was passed, 4-1, with Councilwoman Janet Evans dissenting.

Renda is expected to appear before council in caucus next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to further discuss the budget.

A budget hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

In other business, the proposed creation of a library authority is moving forward, with a 3-2 vote. Evans and Courtright voted no.

The authority’s creation requires a public hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 15.

For more on this story, see the latest edition of The Times Leader Scranton Edition available on Saturday.