With just two more scheduled meetings, the City Council’s Finance Committee will continue its work on the mayor’s 2005-2006 proposed budget tomorrow night, May 19.

The committee is scheduled to discuss the human and social services, insurance and benefits, and city administration budgets at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School.

This year, Chuluda proposed reducing by 25 percent the financial aid that the city provides to various organizations, such as Mission Possible, the Westbrook Food Pantry, VNA Home Health Care and PROP that provide services to residents in the city.

Last year, Chuluda proposed cutting the city’s contribution to those organizations by 50 percent, a move that was overridden by the Finance Committee during the budget process.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said he was satisfied with the progress the committee has made on Chuluda’s proposed $27 million budget. “I think they’ve done a very good job,” Bryant said. “They’ve stayed right on schedule.”

So far, the committee has not made any major additions or cuts to the budget. Last week members unanimously voted to add a net $5,000 in revenues to the budget. The committee also unanimously voted to add $2,000 to the Walker Memorial Library’s book budget and cut approximately $4,200 from various sick leave accounts in the Public Services Department.

Bryant said the committee did not quite finish its discussion of the Recreation Department’s budget last Tuesday night. He said the committee would resume its discussion of that budget tomorrow night before moving on with the full agenda for that meeting.

While the committee has not made any major changes to the budget proposal, members have reserved the right to reserve action on any budget item until later in the process.

Bryant said he felt the committee was working diligently to pass the best possible budget for the city. “I think the council is appropriately asking for details and justifications,” said Bryant. “This isn’t just a cut and slash budget process.”

Following tomorrow night’s meeting, the Finance Committee has one more budget meeting, which is scheduled for next Monday, May 23. The committee will discuss the School Department’s budget as well as the city assessing, economic and community development and city planning budgets at that meeting. The committee is also expected to have a budget wrap-up discussion as well.

The full agenda for the Finance Committee meetings can be found on the American Journal’s Web site at www.keepmecurrent.com. All Finance Committee meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School and will also be televised on cable channel 3.