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The Centerville City Council held a meeting last night. At the start of the meeting the council took attendance, then recited the pledge of alliegiance. Then the council discussed several issues. They discussed allocating $150 dollars to buy officie supplies for offices in the city hall. Council president Jay Radcliffe proposed apporving the money and coumncilwoman Jane barnes seconded it. the council passed that motion unanimusly.

Then the council discuissed preparations for centerville's annual foruth of july fireworks. coumncilwoman jane barnes said fifteen-hundred dollars had nbeen allocated for fireworks for this years fireworks display. "That's less than we spent last year but with the budgetbeing the way it it we'll have to have a smaller fireworks show this year," she said. the council approved the money for the firworks.

Then thecouncil discussed the city budget. Councilwoman Lillian Kafka said the city is facing an eight million dollar difference between the money needed for the budget and the money that's actually available. She said this is due to the fact that with the recession the city is receiving less aid from the state and federal governemnts. "Unless we can find eight million dollars were going to have to make seriosu cuts in city services, including the police, fire and parks and recreation depts," Kafka said.

Council presdient Radcliffe proposed raising the city income tax from one percent to one point five percent. "This raise, while modest, shoudl enable us to make up the difference," Radcliffe said. But councilman Jeff Fager told the council ina loud voice that he'd vote against any proposal to raise taxes. "This council needs to exercise fiscal responsbility and be cutting budhgets and taxes, not increasing them," he said. "The city budget isbecoming increasingly bloated and out of control."

Then the council opened the meeting to public comments. Aman who identified himself as Ray Washington, a local show store owner, got up to spoke. "What the heck are you doing approving $1500 for fireworks when you're short eight millions dollars?" Washington askd the council. "It's irresponsible to be talking about thesekinds of expenses with this kind of budget deficit."

A woman who idenftified herself as Tricia Fager, a local homemaker, noted that city services were already cut last year due to a budget deficit and that they can't be cut any more. "The city park across from my house is filled with garbage and at night teenagers park there andthrow beer cans all over the place," she said. "Where are the police? Where is the parks andrecreation department? if you cut budgets any more this city's going to fall apart."

Several other members of the public spoke, both for and against the tax inxcrease. some of the comments got very heated and some people started yelling at each other. when things started to get out of control a city police officer was called in to restore order. council president radcliffe made a motion that that the council continue its dicussion of the budget problems and tax increase at its next meeting and and the council approved it. then the meeting was adjourned.