BUCYRUS—The Bucyrus City Council Finance Committee held their regular meeting Thursday evening in Council chambers.
Finance Committee chairman Dan Wirebaugh supports a 3% annual wage increase for council members and a raise for the next City Auditor.
Mayor Jeff Reser suggested that bringing the wages for Auditor up to scale would provide an incentive to serve. Long-time City Auditor Joyce Schifer, who retired at the end of the year, was earning around $55,000 annually. The average auditor salary in Ohio ranges from $62,709 per year to $79,463 per year.
Reser asked council to at least focus on that salary.
Finance Committee chairman Dan Wirebaugh supports the raises to attract good people:” I don’t want to sit out here like I did the previous two years I watch the circus up here that was going on,“ Wirebaugh said.
Councilman Terry Spiegel (who is not running for council again) supports a raise for the auditor position. For himself, Spiegel said he never ran for council for the money but to serve his community.
Councilwoman Aaron Sharrock supports a freeze on all wages: “ you were talking about taking away a tax credit. No one has showed any willingness to give anything themselves. You need to be willing to give while you’re asking for people to give.” Sharrock said.
Councilman Dan Wirebaugh took offense to Sharrock’s comments: “I’ve been giving up here for years. I miss swim meet, I miss softball, I miss baseball, I’ve missed programs and all kinds of stuff,” Wirebaugh said.
Sharrock replied: “It’s about more than money. We’re talking about other people’s money.”
Councilman Kevin Myers told council: “Now is not the time to ask for raises.”
Instead, Myers suggested that council put a hold on the ARPA funds (until they learn whether or not the proposed levy will pass)that are slated for the splash pad and street projects. Even though the splash pad funds are due to be reimbursed by the Kiwanis Club, Myers still believes the city may need that money to meet expenses and payroll for the next year. Myers also said he did not object to discussing raises in the next one or two years when the money is available in the budget.
Myers also suggested a potential partnership with the YMCA to manage the pool. Mayor Reser noted that the biggest expense Related to the pool is the cost of chemicals. Chemicals cost roughly $40,000 last year. Reser said he would discuss the possibility with the YMCA.
Reser does not support holding the money until April or May because the projects are already under contract or about to go out to bid. Reser emphasized that about half of the ARPA money was already used for safety forces, including the purchase of emergency vehicles. He believes the rest of the money should be invested into tangible long-term projects for the city. Reser did suggest rather than freeze the funds to take a wait-and-see approach and then determine what action needs to be taken after revenues or realized.
During discussions, councilmembers Teri Spiegel, Dan Wirebaugh, and Mayor Reser reminded council that while they support pay raises for future officeholders, they themselves will not benefit from it.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing situation.