Council puts city budget bill on hold

Springfield City Council decided Monday night to hold over the proposed $255.1 million budget. The decision followed a budget workshop held earlier that day, when councilwoman Cynthia Rushefsky expressed a desire to find extra money to put into the Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension Fund.

“She brought up that she would like to find $500,000 to put into the Police and Fire pension, and she offered several suggestions,” said Louise Whall, the city’s director of public information. “The other council members hadn’t really had time to digest it or come up with their own suggestions, so they decided to hold it over for the next council meeting.”

Among the sources of additional funding Rushefsky suggested was $163,000 set aside for a renovation of the Department of Building Development Services, which was also held over from Monday night’s agenda.

As for the budget itself, Whall said council could vote at its June 4 meeting if there are no substantive changes. If the budget is substantially changed, the council would have to hold another public hearing and vote at the June 18 meeting – the last before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

See SBJ’s May 28 issue for more from the May 21 council meeting.