West Newsmagazine 11-27-19

14 I NEWS I
By JEFFREY BRICKER
November 27, 2019
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Some members of the Wildwood City
Council were up in arms over cuts proposed
in next year’s budget.
However, it’s not the reduced spending
that has some council members upset. It’s the
potential cut in services.
“Almost all departments and all areas of the
budget were scrutinized and reduced, resulting
in fewer services for the residents in 2020
and beyond,” councilmember Tim Woerther
[Ward 7] said at the council’s regular meeting
on Nov. 12.
City Administrator Sam Anselm first
presented a proposed 2020 budget to the
Wildwood council in a Nov. 8 memorandum.
The proposal included cuts to the general
fund operating budget totaling more than
$419,000. The proposed cuts came after several
council members advised Anselm that
the city needed to be working within a balanced
budget.
The cuts are spread out across several areas
and departments of the city and break down
as follows:
• Administration would be reduced by
$136,518, with the bulk of the savings
coming from a reduction in attorney fees and
consulting costs;
• The Parks budget would be reduced by
$121,061, with $50,000 of that
savings coming from cuts in recreation
supplies and park maintenance;
• The Planning budget would be
lowered by $39,941, with nearly
half of that amount coming from
the elimination of the 2021 calendar
costs;
• The City Clerk/Council
budget would be cut by $7,051,
with the majority of the savings
due to the elimination of a public
shredding event;
• The Police budget would be
reduced by $14,200 through
the elimination of capital items
requested by the department;
• Public Works would be cut by $100,820,
with $50,000 of that savings attributed to a
reduction in the use of outside contractors for
small bridge and culvert inspections.
The elimination of the shredding event and
2021 calendar was also challenged by some
members.
In response, Woerther proposed that the
council members examine their own salaries
to curb cost cuts.
“The question I have for council members
is, are you willing to address your salary
to help residents have a consistent level of
service and events they are used to having?”
Woerther said.
Woerther added that cutting the salaries of
city council members and the mayor by 50%
would save the city about $42,000. While
that’s not quite enough to cover the projected
costs of what Woerther calls “a popular
shredding program” and the annual calendar,
it would come close.
Councilmember John Gragnani [Ward 1]
noted the changes in salaries for the council
members and the mayor were made “a few
years ago” and that he was “absolutely in
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Wildwood faces budget reduction as council discusses offset pay cuts
Wildwood councilmember Tim Woerther [Ward 7] challenged fellow
council members to address 2020 budget shortfalls by reducing
their own salaries on Nov. 12
[Photo by Jeffrey Bricker]
favor of [reducing salaries] as it sends
the money back to the people who
mean the most, our citizens.”
Mayor Jim Bowlin disagreed and
noted the topic of officials’ pay was
discussed not long ago.
“Budget choices occur every
year. This year, we had to pay large
unanticipated costs because of a
poorly handled transaction from the
prior administration,” Bowlin said.
“Elected officials’ pay was just set a
few years ago after extensive research,
and targeting it runs the risk of limiting
public office to only those who
don’t have to worry about paying for
childcare and other expenses – that’s
unfair and I’m against it.”
Councilmember Joe Garritano [Ward 8]
echoed Bowlin’s sentiments after the meeting.
“Calendars will still be available for our
residents to pick up at City Hall and local
businesses,” Garritano said. “We don’t need
to make rash decisions like cutting salaries
without giving it appropriate thought. We
worked hard to make sure the salaries are
comparable with similar cities.”
The council voted to move the issue to
a committee for further examination and
review.
Make sure your Marketplace plan includes
BJC HealthCare and Washington University Physicians.
Open enrollment has begun and so has your chance to
make sure you get the 2020 Marketplace plan you need.
Even if you’re renewing your current plan, it’s still best to
shop around and make sure you’re getting the right plan —
one that includes access to BJC hospitals.
Learn more by scheduling an appointment with a
certified Marketplace counselor.
Call 855-488-4855.
bjc.org/marketplace
FOR 2020, BJC HEALTHCARE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH CIGNA CONNECT IN SELECT MISSOURI COUNTIES
AND THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ILLINOIS (BLUE CHOICE PREFERRED PPO) IN MOST COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS.
Alton Memorial Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Boone Hospital Center
Christian Hospital
Memorial Hospital Belleville
Memorial Hospital East
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
Northwest HealthCare
Parkland Health Center
Parkland Health Center Bonne Terre
Progress West Hospital
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis
BJC Behavioral Health
BJC Corporate Health Services
BJC Home Care Services
BJC Medical Group
BJC Mrktpl_WestNewsmagazine_10x5.6_Single.indd 1
11/14/19 10:54 AM