HOBART | The possible elimination of the Police Department's take-home squad car policy was just one area scrutinized Monday as city officials met to discuss the proposed 2009 budget.
City Councilman David Vinzant, D-4th, who led the questioning directed to Police Chief Rod Gonzalez, said he believes the program is worthwhile.
"I'm just trying to find a way to make the numbers work," he said.
Mayor Brian Snedecor is planning to advertise a $16.2 million budget, although the final budget is likely to be a couple million dollars less.
"We have another year of tough times then things will get better," Vinzant said.
He and fellow Finance Committee members Matt Claussen, D-at large, and John Brezik, D-5th, along with Snedecor and Clerk-Treasurer Deborah Longer met with department heads Monday and Tuesday nights to discuss projected budgets.
The City Council will have the first reading of the 2009 proposed budget Wednesday, Longer said.
Claussen, a veteran Hobart police officer, defended the take-home squad car policy, saying its removal would actually increase spending.
He made his comment after Vinzant questioned the police chief's projected budget line item of $150,000 to purchase new squad cars.
"That jumps off the page," Vinzant said.
Claussen said that prior to the take-home squad car policy, police officers used pool cars, which resulted in the cars being used 24 hours a day.
As a result, the department was purchasing more cars each year even though the number of officers was only half of what it is today, he said.
In addition, the visibility of the police cars in the community and the officers' response to emergencies is priceless, Claussen said.
"I speak selfishly and have been in it long enough," he said.
Other department heads who came to the initial work session included City Judge William Longer, interim Parks Director Jay Durr and Fire Chief William McCorkle.
McCorkle, who has broached the topic before, talked about the possibility of closing one of the four fire stations.
"Give me a year to show you what I can do," he said. "With this budget four stations won't make it."
