Fairhope, Alabama
At a work session Thursday, the mayor submitted his proposed 2013 budget to the new council-elect.
Highlights include:
1. $450,000 for new soccer fields on Manley Rd. (east of the high school)
2. 4 more police officers and 6 cars
3. Pay off the remainder of the library-construction loan ($700,000) and street paving loan ($1.7 million) using the city's emergency reserve funds (to be payed back with sales tax revenue over the next year)
4. $50,000 for completing the verteran's memorial statue on the bluff (called "Tears of sorrow, Tears of Joy")
5. A 3% employee pay raise
6. $330,000 for "community development" projects (donations from the city to non-profits such as the Chamber of Commerce, FEEF, Rotary Youth Club, Pirate Booster Club and others)
NO MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
No money is proposed to be given to supplement local schools (the Educational Advisory Committee had requested $750,000 for 2 new teachers in each city-area school); but the mayor left the door open for adding some of it later (He said he did not favor using it for teachers, however).
Council-elects Brewer and Burrell indicated supplemental funding for the 5 local schools was a high priority they would like to pursue; but Burrell added the $750,000 figure was too much. Brewer indicated the money could be used for purposes other than "teacher units" as well.
Burrell: "I've been thinking real hard ... trying to find money for the schools ... need to listen to the EAC ... but I wouldn't vote to approve $750,000 ... ."
Brewer: "... the EAC is an advisory committee ... (they) come to us with recommendations ... if we don't agree putting 2 teachers in schools is the best use of the money ... ask them to go back and look at others ways to be more effective ... none of us around this table are experts in education ... ."
At a work session Thursday, the mayor submitted his proposed 2013 budget to the new council-elect.Highlights include:
1. $450,000 for new soccer fields on Manley Rd. (east of the high school)
2. 4 more police officers and 6 cars
3. Pay off the remainder of the library-construction loan ($700,000) and street paving loan ($1.7 million) using the city's emergency reserve funds (to be payed back with sales tax revenue over the next year)
4. $50,000 for completing the verteran's memorial statue on the bluff (called "Tears of sorrow, Tears of Joy")
5. A 3% employee pay raise
6. $330,000 for "community development" projects (donations from the city to non-profits such as the Chamber of Commerce, FEEF, Rotary Youth Club, Pirate Booster Club and others)
NO MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
No money is proposed to be given to supplement local schools (the Educational Advisory Committee had requested $750,000 for 2 new teachers in each city-area school); but the mayor left the door open for adding some of it later (He said he did not favor using it for teachers, however).
Council-elects Brewer and Burrell indicated supplemental funding for the 5 local schools was a high priority they would like to pursue; but Burrell added the $750,000 figure was too much. Brewer indicated the money could be used for purposes other than "teacher units" as well.
Burrell: "I've been thinking real hard ... trying to find money for the schools ... need to listen to the EAC ... but I wouldn't vote to approve $750,000 ... ."
Brewer: "... the EAC is an advisory committee ... (they) come to us with recommendations ... if we don't agree putting 2 teachers in schools is the best use of the money ... ask them to go back and look at others ways to be more effective ... none of us around this table are experts in education ... ."
The mayor's proposed budget will be considered and voted on by the new council on Nov. 5th -- or they could decide to table it for further study. At the work session, the new council members generally indicated support for it.
Comments