Oh goodie, way to go Frank!
This is going to be both politically entertaining and will show the true depth of Carty's dedication to doing the right thing for Toledo.
Tom better get a fresh box of pens, Carty should be home this weekend!
posted by BrianInFlorida at 07:47 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
It never gets boring in T-Town..lol. I suspect there was an avalanche somewhere in Colorado today. Who knows??..maybe he thinks its a good idea..
posted by Chad at 09:45 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Here's the flow up to the story the above article promised:
Toledo voters may get say on budget bill
Mayor must sign off on proposal
By LAREN WEBER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070725/NEWS16/707250433
Toledoans may get the chance to vote this year on requiring the mayor to send City Council a balanced-budget estimate each fall for the following year.
...
The proposal - which requires the mayor's signature before it could be placed on the ballot - was pushed recently after council was forced in March to trim more than $10 million from the city's $241.7 million budget to meet a state budget-balancing deadline.
posted by tekrat at 05:26 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
All I can say is Thank God! The rest of us have to live within our budgets....
posted by lloyd at 07:09 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
Council can and should overturn any veto on this matter.
posted by Chad at 07:18 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
And the first words out of Carty's mouth will have to do with cuts for Police and Fire, and I say horseshit.
This is akin to having personal finance issues and not paying the electric and rent bills, but keeping up with the gym membership, HBO, and your dining out schedule...
posted by billy at 07:29 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
Technically, the state already requires cities to submit a balanced budget.
"State law requires a balanced budget for the next fiscal year, starting April 1, be passed by council by March 31 each year."
This possible change to the city charter would require the mayor to get the budget estimate to Council months earlier than normal, so Council and the public can take its time picking through it. No doubt, this is one reason why Czarty and some on Council would be opposed to this charter change.
"The proposed charter change would require the city administration to prepare, by the previous Nov. 15, a nonbinding advance version. ... requiring the mayor to send City Council a balanced-budget estimate each fall for the following year. The amendment specifies the budget must be made available online to create a more transparent process."
It's a bit stunning that the above items do not already exist in 2007, but then again, it's Czarty and Toledo. For the current fiscal year, Czarty waited until the beginning of March to give Council the budget. Now, Council still had a month to work on it, but it's suspicious when the mayor cannot get the budget estimate to Council much earlier.
So who on Council voted against what seems like a good idea? That would be:
* Mark Sobczak
* Betty Shultz (R)
* George Sarantou (R)
* Rob Ludemen (R)
Here's the list of Council people who at the end of March voted for the new city tax that's called a garbage fee:
* Joe Birmingham
* Mark Sobczak
* Rob Ludeman
* Betty Shultz
* George Sarantou
* Wilma Brown
* Phil Copeland
posted by jr at 07:58 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
This boggles my mind...I cannot even begin to fathom why anyone on council - especially the Republicans who are supposed to be fiscal conservatives - would not want the administration to present them with a balanced budget in November.
While I agree that this is a political ploy on behalf of Szollosi (he never wanted this when Ford was mayor), it doesn't change the fact that it's a good idea!
Sadly, it seems that maintaining this 'alliance' between the GOP, Sobscak and Carty is more important than good public policy. Boy, I hope I'm wrong and that at least one of them will vote to override any veto Carty may issue on this...
:(
posted by MaggieThurber at 09:23 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
The earlier they know, the sooner they have the format, the more time they have to work on a solid, smart budget, the better off we will ALL be.
I agree with Maggie, just because a political ploy in in play doesn't mean a good idea should be shot down.
The "game" is what politicians do, the reality for us is that the budget is a personal problem for all Toledoans. The"Budget" is OUR money...ours. We all have a vested interest in the budget, it's plan and the goal(s).
The public should have total access to the budget and the council should have the est. as early as possible so the kinks get worked out in advance of the March deadline. Since it takes these people forever to work something out, an advanced copy is required to be efficent.
posted by Chad at 09:53 A.M. EST on Wed Jul 25, 2007 #
Syndicate ToledoTalk
