City Councilman Ben Porter hasn't voted in favor of a proposed city budget in his seven years on the council.
Porter said he couldn't support the $82.1 million package Tuesday night because Mayor Joe Jenkins gets paid too much.First-year Councilwoman Shari Holweg also voted against the budget, saying she couldn't "allow the mayor's office to continue its agenda uninterrupted." Holweg made a campaign promise to not rubber-stamp administrative proposals.
But Holweg's and Porter's five colleagues were satisfied with the fiscal 1992-93 budget, which is about 7 percent larger than this year's. The $20.5 million general fund grew less than 1 percent. Tax revenues are increasing at a slower rate than years past, said Keith Haslem, budget officer.
"We feel pretty good about this budget," Jenkins said. "It's very austere." It does not include a property tax increase.
See BUDGET on B2
But it does include higher green fees at East Bay Golf Club and increased ambulance service charges. The city will also collect $2.50 a month from residents starting in July to fund a storm-water service district. The council voted in April to impose the fee.
That was a sore spot for the Utah Taxpayers Association. Howard Headlee, who represented the Salt Lake-based organization, said it appears too much of the money will be used for administrative costs. Headlee said the taxpayers association would watch the fee closely in the coming years.
Councilman Jim Daley, who favored the budget but opposed the storm-drain fee, told Headlee to sit back and enjoy because the fee will "go up and up and up." Holweg doubts the storm-drain system will ever be constructed.
Council chairman Don Butler defended the fee. He said it was set low so the city can evaluate what will be needed to build and maintain the system.
Holweg also said the budget has some serious flaws.
"Sometimes I think we really lose sight that we are the watchdogs of the taxpayers' money," she said. Sounding a familiar theme, Holweg said the city lacks checks and balances, especially concerning the budget.
Holweg criticized the budgeting process and told her fellow council members they need to get more involved. She also wants to hire a budget analyst for the council, a proposal that didn't fly for lack of money earlier this year. She said the process also precludes citizen input. Tuesday was the only public hearing.
"This council has no policy objectives," she said. "When this council takes control of the budget, then I'll vote for the budget."
Councilman David Rail said he was offended by Holweg's remarks. "I feel like the council has been well-represented," he said.
Several residents also questioned various aspects of the budget.
Wayne Hill attended the meeting armed with lists of questions such as why the city owns a cemetery. He pleaded with the council to not adopt the budget.
Council members said they had to approve it Tuesday night. The budget must be passed before July 1; the council's next scheduled meeting is July 14.
"That's typical," Hill muttered as he returned to his seat.
Here are a few other things included in the budget:
- The police department will receive an additional $233,794 to hire two full-time officers, several reserve and lower-grade officers and about 20 crossing guards.
- Parks and Recreation will hire five seasonal employees to work at Rock Canyon Park and to groom baseball fields.
- City employees will receive a 2 percent raise. The usual 3 percent bonus given in December was reduced to 2 percent.
- Capital improvement projects include an airport collector road ($1.5 million); airport runway extension ($1.3 million); street improvements ($250,000) and golf course improvements ($250,000).
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(Chart)
Provo City budget
1991-92 1992-93
General Fund 19.8 million 20.5 million
(in millions)
Where it comes from:
Property tax $2.41 $2.46
Sales tax $6.8 $7.0
Misc. department revenues $3.04 $2.90
Franchise tax $2.24 $2.27
Transfers from other funds $3.98 $4.39
Where it goes:
Police $5.72 $5.87
Fire $3.75 $3.88
Parks and rec. $3.28 $3.24
Public services* $1.28 $1.26
*Streets
Tax/fee increases:
$2.50 per month storm/water fee