by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
For nearly two hours last week, the City Council’s Government Performance, Audit, Technology and Education Committee debated, and ultimately drafted, a budget priority list for the upcoming year.
Ten priorities were whittled down from a much longer list that was created by committee members Suzanne Jenkins, Faye Rustin, Michael Corrigan and Mia Jones. Council president Elaine Brown also gave input.
Per the City’s Ordinance Code, the Council shall select and approve their priorities, which cannot exceed 10, by the first Council meeting of 2005.
Of those making the preliminary list, continued focus on the Base Realignment and Closure process to be sure local military facilities remain open and incentive programs to move businesses into over-looked and impoverished areas ranked number two and three, respectively.
Encouraging Mayor John Peyton to present a balanced budget with promise for improved bond ratings and financial stability topped the draft list.
Jenkins, who chairs the GPATE committee, said she was pleased with the committee’s ability to agree on potential budget priorities, which will be further debated by the full Council next week.
“We’re much more focused and specific than we have been in the past, which I think is very good,” she said.
That focused effort, said Jenkins, will help the Council and Peyton’s office see eye to eye before a final budget is approved.
“Up until now our priorities have been, for the most part, more general. You can’t put generalities against a budget,” she said. “It’s in our best interest to be able to measure a certain degree of performance. We haven’t been doing that.”
Jenkins said an ordinance may also be introduced that, if passed, would require Peyton to explain how the upcoming budget reflects Council priorities at future finance committee hearings.
“I think it will much easier for us to connect the dots now and see the big picture,” she said. “The budget is always going to be overwhelming and it’s easy to get lost in it.”
Other Council priorities are:
• Find funding for low income and seniors to connect to City water and sewer facilities.
• Improve economic incentives for the Northside and Westside.
• Fund a facade program for blighted areas.
• Increase active park activities.
• Determine the quantity of substandard housing units and develop a 10-year strategy to improve them.
• Establish and begin construction on town centers through the city.
• Create funding for regional indoor facilities including gymnasiums and community meeting spaces.