[ back ]
City urged to go slow down on spending
(by Sue Reid - April 09, 2009)
City urged to go slow down on spending
By SUE REID
City Council members need to determine just how far to go with capital purchases, Solon Councilman John T. Scott told the public works committee last week.
His comments followed a report from the service department requesting that legislation be prepared to accept a bid for automated-rubbish trucks for subsequent phases of the program.
"It's more of an overall philosophy, because we do handle capital items on an individual basis, but we need to let the departments know how much they could spend," Mr. Scott said.
"This has to be determined, because each request is coming fast and furious."
He said the service department request will be before council next Monday for the purchase of the carts and trucks for phase three of the automated-rubbish-pickup program. While it makes sense to do that, what the city will spend on capital projects this year needs to be determined, he said.
"I think there are funds available," Mr. Scott said, "and I think each request has to stand on its own merits." But, he said, "If someone on council or a majority of council feels they would cut back in this capital program, we should know up front."
Mr. Scott said he does think the city could fund most of the requests. "Most of the ones I've seen are legitimate," he said.
Mr. Scott said, when budgets were approved earlier this year, department heads were asked to prioritize their requests. He said the city never made a commitment based on all of the departments to how much it would spend on capital items.
Councilwoman Susan A. Drucker said last week that it's a finance committee issue. She said the committee, which she chairs, has been talking about it in a couple of different ways. First, the committee asked Finance Director William Weber to provide the committee on an ongoing basis what capital-improvement projects have been approved to date and what in each department's budget has been used. In addition, she said, the committee is asking in regards to the city reserves if funds will be transferred into the capital-improvement fund.
"It's not a council agenda item," Mrs. Drucker said. "That is something for the finance committee. These are items that are already up for discussion with finance, and we're addressing them."
[ back ]
