Almost three months after passing Mayor Alvin Brown’s first phase of government reform, City Council members are looking for details of phase two.
Several Council members in recent weeks wondered when they could expect details of the budget cuts and costs savings Brown and the administration have been working on.
Brown’s Chief of Staff Chris Hand filled in for Council Liaison Jessica Deal at two Council committees Tuesday and was asked by Council member Bill Bishop for a general update on the second phase of reform progress.
Bishop said that he didn’t want to consider piecemeal legislation about savings and cuts without knowing the administration’s direction.
“I think it’s appropriate to know where you’re headed,” Bishop said.
Hand said a briefing on the administration’s progress toward phase two might be available at the next Finance Committee meeting in two weeks or at another scheduled meeting.
Departments have been asked to find savings in their budgets and operations.
“It is in process at the departmental and Finance Department level right now,” Hand said.
Council member Lori Boyer made a similar request to Deal on Monday at the end of the Rules Committee meeting. Deal responded that the information is being pooled for a Council briefing “in the next couple of weeks.”
Deal also was asked about the status of funding for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, which is slated to expire March 31, and if there was a contingency plan in place.
Deal said that a contingency plan is in process and that the March 31 expiration will be extended.
A local bill filed in the Legislature to allow the City to amend or delete portions of the City Charter relating to the JEDC is hearing approval, but the session is scheduled to end Friday.
Brown said in a Jan. 10 interview that he would present budget cuts and costs savings “soon” and reaffirmed his contention that 10-15 percent of the City budget could be shaved as part of reform’s second phase. Layoffs and privatization were potential methods to reach that goal, he said then.
“Everything is on the table,” Brown said.
Those reductions and savings would benefit the fiscal 2012-13 budget, which will be sent to Council and vetted over the summer before being finalized by Oct. 1.
Aspects of phase two, including reviews of information technology, fleet management and central service functions, were initiated before phase one was approved.
Over the past several weeks, Brown’s appointments for those positions have been confirmed or are close to being confirmed.
Several appointments are still vacant, including the Economic Development Officer charged with leading the newly created Economic Development Commission.
Council member Matt Schellenberg has also called on the administration for answers on phase two reform. He also asked the administration for a flow chart of Brown’s appointments and those that remain vacant.
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