Mayor: Council budget changes
won't work

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
August 20, 2004
Meridian city councilmen could make changes today to their proposed spending plan for the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Council President Bobby Smith of Ward 5 scheduled an 8 a.m. work session after Mayor John Robert Smith said changes councilmen made to the budget two weeks ago would cause a deficit.
Councilmen originally planned to cut an employee pay raise from 2.5 percent to a $750 across-the-board raise, which they expected to save the city about $300,000. Giving employees a $750 across-the-board increase means those workers who earn less than $30,000 a year would pocket more money than they would with a 2.5 percent raise as originally proposed.
Councilmen suggested the city could spend the extra money on five new public works employees; five new police officers, including two to patrol Bonita Lakes; and new restrooms at Lakeview Golf Course.
But the mayor, who was out of town two weeks ago when councilmen met to discuss the budget, said it won't work.
Some councilmen, though, who aren't expected to adopt the budget until later this month or early next month, say they plan on standing by their proposed changes.
Today's meeting comes days after two public meetings were held to allow residents to talk to city officials about how tax dollars are spent.
On Monday, about 50 residents raised concerns about a proposed 10 percent hike in water and sewer rates, the third consecutive annual raise in the rates.
Tuesday's public hearing centered around the city's proposed $43.9 million spending plan for the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Earlier this month, councilmen met for three days to craft the budget and prioritize the city's spending. At that time, they decided on the change in employee pay raises as a way to add the police officers and public works workers and make improvements at Lakeview Golf Course.
And even though the mayor and his staff have said the council's proposed changes to the budget won't work, Ward 3 Councilman Barbara Henson said she still hopes they can.