DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — The Dayton City Commission moved closer Wednesday, Jan. 28 to approving a grim, but balanced budget for 2009 that includes about 30 layoffs.

No residents braved the ice and snowstorm Wednesday to attend a public hearing to weigh in on the city's proposed spending for the year. A second public hearing will be on Feb. 4 at City Hall, during the 6 p.m. City Commission meeting.

As proposed, the $167 million general fund budget represents a 3.1 percent decrease over 2008 spending or $5.28 million less.

Budget priorities included police, economic development and infrastructure.

"The development of the 2009 budget has truly been marked by unprecedented challenges," City Manger Rashad Young wrote in a memo to the City Commission finalizing his budget recommendations.

The bulk of the layoffs will likely occur in February or March, Deputy City Manager Stan Earley said.

Civil Service must first research the seniority of individuals holding positions that will be eliminated, to see if they can bump to other jobs.

In December, Young laid out the budget that includes reducing summer mowing, maintenance of some ballfields and limiting snow removal in neighborhoods. Janitorial positions paid through the general fund will be contracted out, or the city will consider a union-offered plan.

A proposed reorganization of the Dayton Fire Department, including demotion of 10 district chiefs, was built into the budget, but has not been implemented. Discussions with the Dayton Firefighters Union Local 136 are ongoing, said Jane Howington, assistant city manager for operations.

Since the budget was unveiled, the city also has learned Dayton will get an estimated $806,000 less than expected in Local Government Fund receipts from the state.

"We will manage the 2009 budget to reduce expenditures across departments to cover this unplanned loss in revenue," Young said.

Barbara LaBrier, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that this budget process has been tough, but the news is not all bad.

"It's about reinventing the city, crafting our future," LaBrier said. "It about building the future."

At least one cut didn't make it into the budget in its entirety.

The elimination of the Festival of Neighborhoods at $35,600 will be partially restored in the amount of $19,400 so that a single, city-wide festival can be held.

Mayor Rhine McLin will deliver the State of City address on Feb. 11 at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall.