BASED ON COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S GOALS
At its first meeting, 2012 Budget Committee Chairman Stan Grubin said the committee would build the 4 goals ("challenges") outlined by Council President Lonnie Mixon at the last Council meeting into the new budget (maintain/improve the city's financial condition; incorporate water, road, sewer infrastructure improvements; merit/promotional raises for employees; and cancel garbage fees for one year); but added his committee could only make recommendations: the city council would get the chance to eventually approve or modify them all in the final budget.
Grubin pointed out that some of its goals/recommendations for the current year (2011), notably the privatization of garbage pick-up, never materialized -- and predicted the same would be the case next year.
The Mayor said he would prefer the full council approve the goals before proceeding; but Mixon thought the Committee already had such authority to proceed -- since it had been appointed by the Council.
Committee member Charles Zunk said the committee would budget for the lost garbage fees (about $1.3 million), but the council could choose later whether to waive all or just part of them -- or substitute some other tax-break measures in its place.
At its first meeting, 2012 Budget Committee Chairman Stan Grubin said the committee would build the 4 goals ("challenges") outlined by Council President Lonnie Mixon at the last Council meeting into the new budget (maintain/improve the city's financial condition; incorporate water, road, sewer infrastructure improvements; merit/promotional raises for employees; and cancel garbage fees for one year); but added his committee could only make recommendations: the city council would get the chance to eventually approve or modify them all in the final budget.
Grubin pointed out that some of its goals/recommendations for the current year (2011), notably the privatization of garbage pick-up, never materialized -- and predicted the same would be the case next year.
The Mayor said he would prefer the full council approve the goals before proceeding; but Mixon thought the Committee already had such authority to proceed -- since it had been appointed by the Council.
Committee member Charles Zunk said the committee would budget for the lost garbage fees (about $1.3 million), but the council could choose later whether to waive all or just part of them -- or substitute some other tax-break measures in its place.
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