CANTON BARELY MEETS LAST 2015 PAYROLL? ALSO, GET A LOOK AT THE "REAL" 2016 CANTON BUDGET! MAYBE?

FINANCE DIR. DiRUZZA

AUDITOR R.A. MALLONN

COUNCIL FINANCE CHAIR HAWK

MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OF LATE?

VIDEOS

DiRUZZA
ON
MEETING THE PAYROLL
=======================
DIRUZZA
ON
THE 2016 BUDGET

 

Taking in Canton City Council's work session certainly took a lot of "reading between the lines."

The Stark County Political Report, of course, is known to go where "angels fear to tread," but it appears to The Report that it was "touch and go" for Canton government to get money in place to meet it final payroll for 2015.

City officials are putting on a "stiff upper lip" these days so not to as to appear to be alarmist in talking about Canton finances these days.

Underneath appearances, it seems to the SCPR that there is a lot of nervousness among Canton officials as the city grapples with a projected $4.2 million 2016 budget deficit.

Take a look at this video of Finance Director Joe DiRuzza explaining transfers to meet the final payroll.



Think maybe - just maybe - things financial for Canton government are more than tad tight these days?

The other "elephant in the room" in Canton City Council chambers last night was the 2016 budget.

For public consumption, the line was that as a matter of a "temporary six month" budget, council passed a resolution putting in place 7.5% "across the board" cuts on nearly all general fund supported functions of Canton government.

• SCPR Note:  In reality, the budget is potentially through March 28, 2016:  the last council meeting before the end of March by which state law mandates a budget be in place),

Again, Director DiRuzza on video:



In records obtained by the SCPR from the clerk of council, it appears that the following document in a realistic picture at what the 2016 "final" budget may look like:

(LINK, large pdf view)

Interesting, no?

"These may be times that try" the souls of Canton councilpersons and incoming mayor Thomas M. Bernabei, no?