By KEITH GRANT
Major hikes in health insurance costs, sanitation fees and police salaries as a result of the force's new contract contribute the most to an overall increase of nearly $2 million in spending for 2002-3.
There was no tax increase in the city since 1998 until last year, when taxes were raised by one percent.
Along with the tax increase, what it's likely to gain notice out of the budget is the lack of a salary listed for the city's director of operations, currently Gene Cammarato. Instead a $97,000-a-year position of assistant city manager is listed in place of the $102,000 director of operations job.
The city council created a firestorm when they amended the city charter last year to include the post, which a court had ruled illegal though Cammarato had already held it for two years. Cammarato is also the city's Democratic party leader, which leads critics to often suggest he holds a conflict of interest, which he then staunchly denies.
City officials have no comment on any possible change in the administration, though Cammarato has in the past spoken of retiring this year. City council president Joel Crystal would only say that the budget is a working document. It would be premature to comment further.
As officials won't comment on whether or not Cammarato is leaving, they're naturally tight-lipped about a possible successor under the title of assistant city manager. However, the budget for the building department may provide a clue as the salary for building commissioner decreases from $82,516 in the 2001-2 budget to $75,000. An anonymous source confirmed speculation that building commissioner Steven Polcer is likely to move upstairs into the new post, though City Hall officials offered no comment.
While refusing comment on who's going where, councilman Lenny Remo did say, Regardless of how the budget may be translated, Gene Cammarato has been an exceedingly valuable asset to this city and shall continue to be so in the future.
