City Council sends budget back to administration
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 06/00) - In a rare move city council threw next year's budget back on administration's lap for adjustment, a decision some councillors say puts the reigns of the city back into their hands.
At Monday night's council meeting, council moved that the 2001 draft budget be tabled on Dec 11 with the directive administration find $100,000 to bolster the contingency fund from $88,000 to $138,000 and double special grants from $50,000 to $100,000. Councillors could take up to a week to decide on administration's suggested changes.
Heated debate from start to finish led council to conclude the budget process needed more council input.
"Too many times we accept the budget as a whole no matter what," said Coun. Robert Hawkins separately, "this is an opportunity for administration to take the lead from council and assist us as a tool."
"The perception out there is that administration runs City Hall," he added, "people want a council who runs the city."
The motion to defer the final budget decision was moved by Coun. Wendy Bisaro. Two amendments to the motion were defeated.
Councillors Kevin O'Reilly and Ben McDonald voted against it on the grounds they didn't want services cut.
"If we end up with a deficit, we'll make it up," said Coun. Ben McDonald.
McDonald defined running city business as a family and service cuts as putting a child up for adoption because the family can't make ends meet.
"We have to provide services people want," said McDonald.
Coun. Kevin O'Reilly also launched a spirited attack on cuts and challenged councillors to come forward with items they'd like to cut.
"There's been no moves to cut anything," said O'Reilly, "no one has the guts to do it. Why don't we cut our salaries, our travel expenses, but not our services."
Most councillor's did not disagree with emphasis on providing services but argued that it was more prudent to tighten belts than to go into debt.
"I don't believe in budgeting for a deficit," said Bisaro, "we need to be presented with suggestions."
Coun. Blake Lyons said council had to make the tough political decisions to make sure the city lives within its means and face the consequences.
"I want to see the galleries filled with people who are upset," said Lyons.
"We have to tell folks what is needless spending," he said.
But in the end all arguments led back to one thing: budget process.
"This document has no priorities," said Coun. Dave McCann, "we need a measured process."
One councillor suggested administration provide council with a wish list in June for the next year's budget.
"It could be $10 million over budget but we could look at it and go through it," said Bisaro, "I didn't get the sense in this exercise that I had input to do that."
Mayor Gord Van Tighem said this year's budget conflicts are the beginning of greater council involvement in budgets to come.
"This is an indication council is prepared to direct administration," said Van Tighem.
