With 75 percent of the city’s general fund tied up in police and fire union contracts, Mulligan said the only place to cut spending lies in the discretionary portion of the budget.
“Balancing a budget when only 25 percent of the pie can shrink creates a difficult task when revenues decrease and we must tighten the belt,” Mulligan said. “The result is that our city must do more with less — stretching dollars and maximizing efficiencies.”
Mulligan touched on the possibility of a levy for the city’s deteriorating streets, as he said the bulk of work currently under way represents short-term solutions. “Repaved roads come with a price tag,” he said. “If smoother streets are a priority for residents, we should give them the opportunity to vote on it.”
Mulligan also spent some time running through a list of key assets he said will help “ensure that each child fully achieves their potential.” The numerous assets fell within four key groupings: support, empowerment, the constructive use of time and boundaries and expectations.
Councilman A.J. Smith said he was pleased by the message. Rather than dwelling on what went wrong in the past, Smith said he was glad Mulligan tackled just about everything facing the city in the coming months.
“He didn’t cover up any of the problems that are out there,” Smith said. “He just sort of put it out there and was straightforward and to the point.”
In nearly 48 years of living in Middletown, Cathy Sands has never attended a State of the City address.
She has seen them on local cable television re-broadcasts, but Sands said she never felt much of a desire to experience one in person.
Until 2010, at least. Sands’ daughter, Angelee Holbrook, was one of three Middletown High School seniors recognized for their accomplishments both in and outside the classroom by Mayor Larry Mulligan.
“It was good to come here in person and hear more information on what’s going on in Middletown,” Sands said. “I work out of town so ... it was nice to see what’s coming forth this year.”
Sands beamed when she glanced over at her daughter, who Mulligan referred to as a “quiet leader … who exemplified what being a Middie is all about.”
As for the speech itself, Sands said she thought it was “very encouraging for Middletown.
“I was excited about the family values he put into his speech, sort of in sync with what the president has been saying,” Sands said. “That was really encouraging.”
Mulligan made a point of tearing down the mental concept of wards, several months after voters overwhelmingly moved to eliminate representation based on the city’s ward system.
“We’re not four wards; we’re one Middletown,” he said. “We will solve our problems together as one community.”
Butler County Treasurer Nancy Nix, also a former Middletown councilwoman, was on hand for the event, referring to Mulligan as a “very positive mayor.”
“I think he works hard for the city and has the best interest of the people at heart,” Nix said. “I’m proud of him being our mayor.”
Police Chief Greg Schwarber echoed Nix’s positive view, saying he was “excited at the direction we’re going.
“We have our challenges, but I think we’re looking at the solutions as well,” Schwarber said.
Councilman Dan Picard said he feels good with the way things are looking so far in 2010, even with such recent blows as First Financial Bancorp relocating 160 jobs from Middletown to Springdale. Income tax revenues are noticeably up from 2009 figures thus far, showing what Picard said are some positive signs.
“We’ve generated more revenue in the first two months than last year at the same time,” Picard said. “That doesn’t mean it’s a straight arrow up, but it’s a good sign.
Picard pointed to the demolition of the former Sorg Paper facility as another good project taking place in Middletown, “eliminating an eyesore that’s probably costing them $3 (million) to $4 million to get rid of.”
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