Having a name attached to a work of art can enhance its value. Apparently, the same is true of the city of Modesto's proposed budget. The proposal is no work of art, but for the first time it has a name attached to it -- that of Mayor Jim Ridenour. It is the first budget proposed for the city since voters approved Measure M in February. That change in city government required the mayor to take responsibility for formulating the city's annual spending plan. Having Ridenour's name attached is more than groundbreaking; it has enhanced the budget's credibility and proves the wisdom of voters in approving Measure M. There are priorities to debate and specifics to argue, but the council already has greater trust in the proposal.
"It shows leadership," said Councilman Will O'Bryant, who has been skeptical of past budgets presented by city staff. "It feels like somebody has taken a lead; instead of having a committee and having staff put down recommendations and then hashing it out in meetings, this feels like it's coming from someone. It has his stamp of approval." Councilwoman Janice Keating concurred: "It felt much firmer; it was very direct, it clearly identified that we had a spending problem and it was not a smoke-and-mirror interpretation to cover the overspending. It was ... probably the most realistic description (of problems) I've ever seen." Still, neither O'Bryant nor Keating will rubber-stamp Ridenour's plan; even the mayor doesn't expect that. Keating, for instance, wants to discuss "management pay," the practice of giving some city employees two weeks' pay because they are required to attend meetings outside their normal work hours. That costs the city nearly $900,000 a year, which Keating thinks can be better spent. O'Bryant will have to be convinced that the city is doing all it can to support public safety. But both agree that the mayor has provided an excellent starting point.
After meeting with the directors of every department, Ridenour detailed 155 recommendations -- from cuts of $328 for magazines to eliminating staffing at fire station No. 8 to save $775,000. His proposal includes cuts of more than $10 million. Adding a proposed reduction in reserves, the mayor submitted a budget of $120 million, or roughly $13.4 million less than last year. This is a work in progress, not a work of art. And Ridenour expects a lot of help in finishing it, including input gathered at public meetings -- which he urges residents to attend. "If we don't get people out for these meetings, all the letters (to the editor) won't mean diddly," said Ridenour. "Come down and tell us what you want. Tell us what you don't like about it." There is much to discuss -- from the closure of 12 community pools to suspension of the tree replacement program to higher fees for services. But now there's a face and a name attached to these changes. Clearly, there's value in that.
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Don Quixote Note: I wonder whether this would work in Vernon. A Mayor taking possession of a budget and showing the leadership necessary to have it debated, vetted and passed by a council. I'm sure that our sister city of Modesto can share its thoughts and experiences with this novel system. Will the addition of the Mayor's name to a budget that he will have to guide through and defend add to the credibility of that final document? (a poll has been added in the right column for your thoughts.)
1 comment:
In order for such a concept to work, you would have to have a Mayor who understands complex issues, is an eloquent speaker capable of explaining the rationale behind the budget, has a vision as to where their city is going and is willing to fight for what they believ in.
At the moment we don't have that. In my opinion, Mayor L.L.L.Lippert is 0/4. I love the summver, but I can't wait until November to get him the hell out of office. He has brought nothing to the table in 2+ years. Go back to fixing cars Wayne.
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