Gary council to consider GPTC, airport budgets this week
By Michelle L. Quinn Post-Tribune correspondent September 30, 2012 5:54PM
Updated: November 2, 2012 6:12AM
GARY — Levies, budgets and salaries of many of the city’s largest entities will be the focus of Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.
The Finance Committee at a special meeting last week considered ordinances that will approve the salaries for the Gary Public Transportation Corp., the Redevelopment Department, city employees and employees with the Gary/Chicago International Airport. It also considered ordinances that would appropriate monies to defray costs for GPTC and the airport.
GPTC is asking for appropriations in the amount of $8,516,903 for its general fund and $628,776 for its debt service for fiscal year 2013, for a total of $9,145,679. Because it didn’t submit its personnel form to the State Board of Accounts until February, however, GPTC is having its 2012 budget of $7,493,492 for the general fund and $1,220,708 for its debt service approved.
Because of the way its budget works, the request is not for extra money at all, GPTC Controller Marirose Germick said. “The budget is run on an 18-month cycle, so we’re not looking for an additional appropriation,” she said.
The appropriation also moves money from its general fund to its debt service to cover its bond payment, of which the bond will be paid off in 2012, Germick added.
For the airport’s part, it’s asking for approval of its 2013 $6,258,993 budget, which includes $1,282,710 in employee salaries and benefits, the ordinance reads.
The council additionally will consider the salaries and operating budgets for the city’s Community Development Block Grant Program, Emergency Solutions Grant program and the Home Investment Partnership program. The city’s Community Development Department is set to request from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development $3,203,459 in CDBG money, $707,619 for the HOME grant and $286,918 for emergency solutions grant.
