Mayor: Fund shift may be illegal

A Hazleton city councilmans proposal for using airport funds to plug a roughly $22,000 hole in the general fund budget was greeted with opposition from the mayor, who says the proposal would violate state and federal regulations that specify how that money can be spent.

Council finalized a 2015 budget that contained several provisions challenged by the administration. One of those items included a vote to increase the cable franchise fee revenue by $10,000, to $180,000 which helped balance the spending plan.

When council opted to increase the line item, Acting City Administrator Tom Pribula cautioned that the city wouldnt likely realize the increased allocation because of a drop off in cable TV subscribers.

The administrations warning came to fruition Feb. 27, when the mayor copied council on an email the city received from a Service Electric representative who said the city would receive a $157,840.09 in franchise fees.

The mayor was quick to point out the shortfall.

(Pribula) stated at the budget meeting that your proposal to increasing the cable co (sic) franchise fee to $180,000 would be a mistake, the mayor said in a February email to council. His logic and experience were ignored and now ... you have a $22,160 shortfall in your 2015 budget.

The issue resurfaced Wednesday, when council President Jack Mundie asked the council clerk to include a resolution on the March 17 meeting agenda for transferring $22,660 from the airport fund to the cable franchise fee in the general fund.

The request triggered an email exchange in which Mundie and council Vice President Jean Mope lobbied for the transfer and administrators providing reasons against. Mope wrote that the city shouldnt have a problem requesting funds from the airport because the city subsidized its operations in the past.

The mayor disagrees.

Yannuzzi contends that council doesnt have the ability to request transfers after a budget has been finalized. The administration would make a transfer request and submit it to council for approval, he said.

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Mayor: Fund shift may be illegal