00;00;00;04 - 00;00;23;24
Stephanie Wiechmann
Councilwoman Nora Powell is the head of the finance committee, which runs the city budgeting process. That committee amended a budget written by Mayor Dan Ridenour’s administration, to cut back totals to the 2023 budget numbers, plus 11%. She says that was necessary because the budget was delivered, quote, in pieces and parts with $1.7 million in errors. And she said the city is still in negotiations over three union contracts.

00;00;23;26 - 00;00;39;22
Nora Powell
Adopting a budget without having accurate totals of the city's expenses factored heavily into the choices of the finance committee in order to balance the provision of services and still be responsible with taxpayer money. It only made sense for the Finance Committee to be conservative in our decisions.

00;00;39;24 - 00;00;55;10
Stephanie Wiechmann
City Comptroller Craig Wright represented the mayor's administration at the meeting. He said the administration wanted the budget accepted as submitted, but they'll accept the budget as adopted when several council members, like Jeff Green, asked whether the amended budget would allow employees to be paid. The exchange was tense.

00;00;55;13 - 00;01;06;27
Jeff Green
Are there going to be reduction in staff? Are we going to have anything in harms way as far as, safety for the citizens of Muncie by reducing that?

00;01;06;29 - 00;01;16;28
Craig Wright
I can't answer that. As far as the staff reductions. That's up to the department heads. But, and I'm not going to speak for police, fire, though.

00;01;17;00 - 00;01;40;07
Stephanie Wiechmann
Councilman Harold Mason, Jr., also amended the city budget to remove the salary for three positions: deputy mayor, deputy comptroller, and city communications director. It was approved by a vote of 6 to 3, with no discussion. In a statement, Ridenour called those employees three very good people and dedicated public servants and said the move was unwarranted. He says he will be seeking opportunities for the three unfunded employees.

00;01;40;09 - 00;01;42;10
Stephanie Wiechmann
In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.