The Aldermen just finalized the 2013-14 budget, which will go on the ballot at $18,66,507. That's still up about $700,000 from last year, but down almost a half-million from what the mayor proposed, according to the end-of-evening tally by treasurer Wendy Wilton.
There were few cuts that had not been recommended in committee. While the city forester is going to have to wait at least another year for a new truck, none of the debated cuts in personnel from the DPW administration fund or in vehicles from the DPW streets fund came to pass.
The Board also found a way to restore the part-time auditor the mayor cut from the treasurer's office. They voted to direct the mayor to leave the new human resources position, which is under the treasurer's budget, vacant for three months and use the savings to fund the auditor.
I'll get a fuller account of the debate and of what happened with water and sewer -- there's some prickly bits, there -- up some time Thursday.