People rally for city programs at budget hearing

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BY DEENA WINTER/Lincoln Journal Star

They came riding in wheelchairs, pushing walkers or tapping canes to find their way into city hall.

Some spoke haltingly, fighting through speech impediments, brain injuries or cerebral palsy.

Many held signs and wore neon yellow T-shirts that said, “Leave my bus alone.”

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Roughly 100 people attended a public hearing on the municipal budget Monday — it was the public’s last chance to give input on the mayor’s $136 million spending plan before the City Council votes on final changes Wednesday morning.

Many of them came to explain how they rely on city StarTran buses to get them to work, doctor appointments, college, the soup kitchen or physical therapy.

Vicki Gilbert told the council it seems like budget cuts always seem to fall on the backs of poor people.

“How much more are the poor people supposed to swallow?” she asked.

They urged the City Council to restore enough money to maintain mid-day StarTran bus service. The mayor’s budget proposal initially eliminated mid-day bus service on all but four of the routes, but last week the mayor and council members announced a compromise that would restore funding for the routes by increasing bus fares, using $150,000 from the city’s Special Assessment Revolving Fund and eliminating two bus driver positions.

So even though the council appears poised to keep the buses running, bus riders turned out in force to make sure it follows through.

Patrick Helwig is disabled and has been riding the buses for 18 years, and he said the city should be embracing mass transit at a time like this, not cutting it.

Jill Flagel has been using the buses since 1984 — she and her husband built their home based on where StarTran provides service because they both ride buses. She said cutting hours makes no sense when gas prices are sky-high.

Jeff Altman of the Nebraska chapter of the National Federation of the Blind said the city is burdening “people least able to afford” rate increases at a time when the city should be taking actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Mike Floyd said cutting bus service while expanding eligibility for the Ride for Five discount bus program for low-income riders is akin to “giving out more spoons and then closing the soup kitchen.”

However, Jane Kinsey, who has run for the City Council in the past, said city buses have been running largely empty since the 1970s. She said the city should stop throwing money at the bus system and consider buying smaller buses that run more frequently.

People also came out to urge the council to follow through on the mayor’s promise to restore programs he initially proposed cutting, such as a mental health and head trauma program at the Easterday Recreation Center. Several people with head injuries talked about how the program has helped them and urged the council not to make the program move to a new site, because change is difficult for people with head injuries.

Mayor Chris Beutler has proposed transferring $6.4 million from the Special Assessment Fund to set up an economic development kitty. On Monday, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce came out in support of using the money to set up a trust fund that would only be used for long-term economic development infrastructure needs.

Kyle Fischer of the chamber said the money should be used only to leverage direct private investment, expand or preserve primary jobs and meet the city’s strategic economic development goals.

Coby Mach, head of the Lincoln Independent Business Association, said his group would like the city to leave the SAR money in a reserve fund and use the interest for infrastructure.

LIBA also proposed:

* Eliminating a health promotion and outreach manager in the health department.

*  Eliminating two public health educators who work on tobacco prevention and child safety. LIBA proposes using firefighters to teach children safety.

* Expanding volunteer dentists for school screenings to include all dental services.

*  Reviewing pool safety inspection standards for possible cost savings.

A pediatrician, a member of the Board of Health, representatives of the American Cancer Society and Nebraska Safety Council all spoke out against LIBA’s proposed cuts to the health department.

Last year, LIBA lobbied the council to cut $1 million out of the StarTran budget. On Monday, LIBA opposed restoring $150,000 to StarTran’s budget.

“However, LIBA believes it is reasonable, in light of fuel prices, to see if revenues and ridership can be increased,” Mach said. “However, if StarTran cannot demonstrate over the next year it can reasonably sustain itself, we will again call for significant reductions.”

LIBA’s position on StarTran has drawn the ire of bus riders. Gregory Stewart said he has cerebral palsy and has been riding the bus for more than 22 years. He said since LIBA doesn’t support StarTran, perhaps bus riders should stop patronizing LIBA businesses.

A strong contingent also urged the council to maintain or restore funding to the parks department.

“Apply a tourniquet this year, give it a transfusion next year,” said Beth Thacker.

Councilman Jonathan Cook suggested perhaps the city should use money from the Special Assessment Fund to pay for critical, one-time needs, such as dilapidated trails.

The City Council votes on final changes to the budget at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Other budget notes:

*  The council is considering requiring the mayor’s office to fund mayoral aide Jon Carlson’s position. He was hired last spring to help revitalize the city’s core neighborhoods through the Stronger, Safer Neighborhoods program. Currently, Carlson’s position is funded by the police department.

* The council is considering cutting $10,000 in travel for the mayor’s economic development aide; $30,000 in fire department supplies; $20,000 from the personal computer budget and $20,000 from the Urban Development Department.

* City Budget Officer Steve Hubka said the city’s property tax base growth could be better than expected. The mayor’s budget assumes a 1 percent increase in the city property tax base, but the growth could be more than 1.5 percent when the final figures come in. That would mean roughly $200,000 in additional revenue.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.