December 10, Press Release The annual City Council "budget mark-up" revised the budget in record time today - one hearing that lasted 4.5 hours, as opposed to multiple, divisive, time-consuming sessions (averaging nearly 20 hours per year, over the past four years).
"This was a big event today because it was a non-event. And it didn't happen by accident, It was the result of months of reforms, strategic planning and new partnerships." Mayor Rybak said. The Mayor reformed the budget process this year by inviting the City Council to help craft the budget, making decisions based on a 10-year financial projection, establishing budget principles, placing the City, Parks and the Library on the same diet, capping taxes before making spending decisions, and presenting the budget months earlier than the previous Administration. "The biggest surprise when I came into office a year ago was that the City's financial crisis was even worse than I expected. However, when the budget passes on Monday, the Council and I will have solved two budgets this year, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for our five-year financial plan," Mayor Rybak said. (The previous Council deferred $5.2 million dollars in prospective cuts for this budget year to the current Council and Mayor.) Rybak emphasized that the City's financial crisis is far from over: "The next step is critical. The five-year financial direction we're developing will map out: 1. how we pay for the debts we have inherited, 2. how our City department heads will manage to limited resources, 3 how we hold policymakers accountable for fiscal discipline," Mayor Rybak said. In addition, the Council and Mayor have effectively established a new working relationship. "We haven't let minor squabbles get in the way of solving major problems," Mayor Rybak said. Laura Sether Office of Mayor Rybak Standish-Ericsson _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
