Gary Mayor Jerome Prince (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Gary Mayor Jerome Prince said his administration has taken steps to right the city’s financial ship and put it on sound financial footing heading into 2021.
Prince, in his State of the City address delivered Thursday on social media and the city’s website, said after taking a deep look into the city’s finances it was discovered there was something missing: a promised $15 million in reserves.
“We concluded there were no reserves,” Prince said.
Chief of staff Arlene Colvin, who is also interim comptroller, along with financial consultants Cender and Associates, combed through the city’s finances identifying bills that had not been paid and reconciling bank records. Proceeds from a bond issue were used to fill holes in the city budget and ensure the city would start 2021 on solid footing, Prince said.
Changes have been made to the way certain departments do business, he said. The one-stop shop started earlier this year to streamline the process for residents and developers was suspended because it left too many gaps in efficiency, he said.
Prince said with the help of technology, the city has reduced its operation cost of the vehicle fleet by about 30% and increased efficiency by 45%.
“Our residents deserve a healthy home for their city government,” Prince said. The city’s aging buildings are leaking and in disrepair. Plans for a city center campus that will include public safety are being finalized. Prince said he will be searching for funding sources to make the project come to fruition.
“We have found more creative ways to offer more economic opportunities to residents and businesses,” Prince said.
An anticipated partnership with Akyumen Technologies to build the first 5G phone and table manufacturing facility in the U.S. in Gary will help the city become a technology hub with plans to provide free high-speed internet access to residents and businesses.
Prince said the city is on track to have fewer homicides in 2020 than in 2019 but an increase in violent, non-deadly crime.
The mayor called on residents to be partners in the city’s safety by reporting illegal activity. Prince said code enforcement has been aggressively citing illegal dumpers and issue demolition orders on unsafe structures. He said property owners need to take care of their properties and keep them safe or face city intervention.
Block clubs and other organizations have been working to make a difference, both in how their neighborhoods look and how they are able to help those in need, he said.
“I’m proud of work done so far. We still have a very long way to go,” Prince said.
Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At large, said Friday he had not yet had a chance to review the long-anticipated mayor’s report. The report was initially scheduled in March and was repeatedly postponed as Cender & Cender worked on its audit.
Council President William Godwin, D-1st, could not immediately be reached Friday for comment.
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