There’s just over two months remaining for municipalities to have budgets on the books for 2023.

Warren City Council held its first budget session on Monday, hearing from officials with the police and fire departments.

At this stage, a tax increase for 2023 is not anticipated.

“We’re not contemplating that at this point,” City Manager Nancy Freenock said.

Both Police Chief Joe Sproveri and Fire Chief Dave Krogler walked the council, which has four members working through the budget process for the first time, through department operations.

Sproveri told council that his budget proposal totals just over $2 million.

“Our department, most of our cost is for people,” he said. “We’re pretty frugal with spending. We don’t have a lot of big ticket items.”

The big-ticket items – two police interceptors – are the target of a USDA grant/loan that will help the city offset some of the cost. The budget proposal contains the full amount of the purchase since the grant hasn’t been awarded yet.

Ammunition status was a point of discussion.

Sproveri said the department has outstanding orders made three years ago that have yet to be delivered.

He noted that the department uses different ammunition for training compared to carrying.

He declined to comment when asked if the department is in possession of adequate ammunition for carrying.

“We have done a very good job of keeping the ammo stocked as we can,” Sproveri said. “It’s not just us. It’s everybody.”

He explained that the challenge is that gunpowder and primers come in from different countries, leaving manufacturers unable to get the components needed.

Krogler said his department is projecting a one percent increase year-over-year, totaling nearly $29,000.

He outlined several goals for the next year including installation of a vent system to catch diesel exhaust as well as increased training for hazmat response and water rescue.

Krogler said revenue increases are likely in EMS given the proposed agreement with several municipalities as well as increased in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.

He also projects decreases in overtime due to staffing changes that have dropped the number of overtime shifts next month from 18 to three.

Weighing revenues against expenses, Mayor Dave Wortman noted that $1.6 in tax funding is allocated to balance the police budget while $2.1 is committed to the fire budget.

Finance Officer Jessicca Byler said the city had a $3.9 million fund balance at the end of 2021 and is projecting a $1 million deficit in the 2023 budget.

“We do have enough to cover the deficit and this is why we’re not anticipating a tax increase,” she said.

She said there was a surplus in 2021 and Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said that “we think we’re within $100,000 of last year.”

Mayor Wortman said the information provided looks “promising.

“I think the conversation was quite helpful,” he said.

Additional budget sessions are scheduled for Nov. 7 and Nov. 14.