With tempers considerably cooled after a June 11 meeting left officials clashing over whether Clarkston was headed for broke, the city council voted 4-0 Monday to approve the 2007-2008 budget.
Jim Brueck, Kristy Ottman and Bill Rausch were absent from the meeting.
‘We have a difference of opinion on (the budget),? said Councilman Cory Johnston, ‘but it’s right in keeping with last four years. Revenues are going down, expenses are going up.?
Johnston warned the council two weeks ago the city has been forced to cut about $22,000 from the budget each year, and without long-term planning and closer attention to where the money is going, the city will eventually face bankruptcy, he said.
As a member of the budget committee, Johnston prepared a four-page, 23-point list of possible cuts and increases to the city’s administrative, police and DPW expenditures, but felt the suggestions were virtually ignored by council.
At Monday’s more amicable meeting, however, Mayor Sharron Catallo reiterated a pledge to discuss the issues outlined by Johnston over the coming year, and explore the merit of each.
Many of the items on the list are valid concerns, she said, but most could not be defined as an ‘easy fix.?
Meanwhile, she said, the city is working to continue prioritizing in a down economy.
‘I think every community is going through what we’re going through, on a much larger scale in most cases,? Catallo said. ‘And I think everybody at home has the same thing happening.?
Most members of the council seemed to agree.
‘I think it comes down to how you eat an elephant,? said Councilman Mike Gawronski. ‘And that’s one bite at a time. You pick out the tastiest bits, or the ones with the biggest bang for the buck and address those first.?
With total revenues of $776,532, the 2007-2008 budget includes a two-percent wage increase for all city DPW employees, police officers, and clerical staff. City Manager Art Pappas and acting Police Chief Jim Thompson declined raises.
Pappas received a 3.5 percent increase in salary last year, and former Police Chief Ernest Combs refused on a raise during the 2006-2007 budget talks, but received a pay hike after a council recommendation in August.

The numbers:
Total revenues: $776,532
Last year: $777,514 (amended to $803,971)

Total disbursements: $759,346
Last year: $753,633 (amended to $785,824)

Significant expenses:
Village Hall and grounds: $110,267
Last year: $104,956 (amended to $111,257)

Police: $237,089
Last year: $239,361 (amended to $245,307)

Fire protection: $154,365
Last year $155,625 (amended to $150,155)

Library Services: $36,725
Last year: $32,500 (amended to $35,720)

Streets: $59,953
Last year $49,958