Amherst News-Times, 2003-10-01

              lc. o h wo x i r (j c cn 3 hi m will council talk charter? page 2 boe eyes operations levy -j w s z 10 amherst news-tim rn a debate j finances brews mayor says budget is flush; county calls auditor's bluff by jason hawk court in session members of the 2003 homecoming dorf; and (below) jon korinko, ryan nowicki, pose at marlon l. steele high school mickey mann, cory plato, kyle kalister, an- homocomlng parade last thursday. they are tone de jesus, beau matus. see 16 (above) samantha brezlnskl, brittany for coronation pictures. gerena, jenna porotosky, fallon burg- hhflhijc2jvhbp habk ' 4r3biaaaaaaviaa aaaaaaaaaaaaawawimaw vilwbkhzm j""waawl news-timos roporter three-way feud over state amherst's has erupted just weeks away from city's mayoral election. john higgins took issue week with auditor diane eswinc's predictions $2 million deficit 2004, stat ing that over-budgeted line items not be spent this year produce large carryover. higgins's figures include $300,000 police department funds he most likely won't spent, as well $150,000 street accounts, an extra $100,000 real estate $50,000 building depart ment revenues. malic reappropriation one-percent income tax bolster well, said, pointing out much $400,000 may generated move made earlier year. other funding locked up various said higgins, who offered example $300.000sdcnsi9a account, which claims only actually obligates city to $35,000 $40,000 per year, leaving unused balance. "we get handle on our carryover until november, so forecast was bit premature," said. also haven't sat down each indi vidual cuts budget. we have take risk unpopular do some tilings, like temporary help. would free another $60,000 year." pointed signific ant decrease revenue due poor economic production bbwbbegbb " ijro imlaaab aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalh , aalaaaaaaaalh laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab !alaaaaaaaaaaaah aaallalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw 'aalaaaaaaaaali treasurer kathleen lltkovitz, mark stewart, eswine key players resolving projected shortfalls 2004. "wo handlo premature." "i'm still predicting major deficit, means ara going hava somatlng." eswlrie- "historically, always estimate lower, because can't afford think we'll more money than will..." lltkovitz businesses simply aren't making profits, cannot them. side ef fect interest rates dropped through floor, while good home buyers, leaves earning one third what it did three years ago investments, annual loss roughly $600,000. "if resources any worse don't know how longer recession then make considerations," emphasizing docs support hike losses time. "we're getting hit all sides," explained. "our continued 5 beware: after late taxes watch out, area judges: 188 cases arc headed house. announced monday's meeting prosecutor scott scrazin file complaints against 115 residents recent ha ven't filed returns, additional 73 refused pay. months, nine letters been mailed offen der, including department, law office, five transworld collection agency, workers hope recoup estimated $47,000 back taxes. "i imagine we've easy ignore," accountant laura kemp. hate push this, but it's something needed several now, finally helping relieve frustration office." according kemp, die office loses count resi dents when fail leave forwarding addres ses. hear bevy excuses file, she different reasons why people sometimes two or even time," "wc everything phony 'the dog ate my form' very personal such divorces, legal proceedings, problems priori ties. these trying their lives together, let alone worry about taxes." others cur rent returns pay it, encourage them if really money, set program help them," collecting 97 9 pastor engineered his path calling nows-timos now st. joseph catholic church associate father joe warner settled in, work got here. wish could tell you con cretely happened, re ally know," joked ohio university-trained former engineer. experienced sense restlessness se ven eight ago. knew go somewhere, didn't where." newly ordained cleve land diocese, grew copley, ohio, second seven children, lettered soccer osu. forced choose major, though, looked roommate's shoulder selected civil engineering. acquired gree electrical engineering university akron, went failure analyst consult firm. hurricanes hugo andrew, assigned damage aisessment east coast things seem en tirely right warner, self-reflection, cided god waj asking him change life. doesn't speak full sentences, heard word sentence, 'change,'" lifelong catliolic, attended seminary courted priesthood. kept telling professors thought funny, saw philosophy theology ground. big change, tut definitely stretched me," decision freed summer travel, international excursions, trips remote vil lager el salvador north- pane anntiwti tatter