I want to invite people to the budget forums I will be holding over the next couple months. I will go over the budget I just released, and hear ideas people have for addressing the city's financial issues.
The first of these is Monday night at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church (that's the one with the big gold dome overlooking Lake Calhoun)3450 Irving Av. S.....from 7-8 p.m. I also welcome other ideas that can be sent to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] R.T. Rybak Rybak says 2004 budget plan spares police, fire departments BY LEILA FADEL Pioneer Press Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak titled his 2004 budget address on Thursday the "Light at the End of the Tunnel," and for firefighters and police the light appeared surprisingly bright. Despite a $35 million two-year cut in local government aid from the state and debts owed to the city's pension fund and elsewhere, Rybak's $1.24 billion budget proposes rehiring the 32 firefighters laid off earlier this year and hiring a class of police cadets who had been trained but left in limbo because of the budget crunch. Half of the cadets are minorities. City Council members interrupted Rybak with applause as he announced his hiring plan. The mayor called it an opportunity to "finally move forward on something that we have been far too slow at, which is making sure that the police department of the city represents the full character of the city of Minneapolis." The city would, in part, pay for the rehired firefighters by changing the way it inspects multi-apartment complexes. Firefighters would have sole responsibility for the inspections, a change from the city's practice of dual checks by the department and the Inspections Division. The change will save about $800,000 as the Inspections Division restructures and cuts positions. The mayor's budget of $1.24 billion - compared with 2003's $1.2 billion - relies on increasing the city's property tax levy by 8 percent ($13.2 million), the maximum allowed by city policy. Rybak also proposed dipping into a $34 million "rainy day" fund resulting from the sale of a Hilton Hotel about five years ago. About half of the fund would be spent on community development projects. The rainy day fund would be replenished in 2009 when the city is repaid money previously lent to a property management company. The plan was first suggested by Council Member Barret Lane. The rest of the rainy day fund would be used to pay down pension fund debt, freeing up $1.5 million annually for the general fund. "That's what I call the common sense solution," Rybak said. The city is in a better position to balance its budget thanks to deep cuts and reorganizations made earlier this year, Rybak said. He said the city had no choice but to cut spending and find other revenue sources in light of state funding cuts. "Local government aid will be a source of unstable aid for a long time," Rybak said. Rybak also plans to allocate $200,000 to help restore the canopy of elms and other trees that line city streets as well as money for two skateboard parks, bike trails, public art and graffiti control. Council Vice President Robert Lilligren supported many of Rybak's suggestions but questioned some of the practicalities. "I think we need to look at how a change like (firefighter inspection) is done," Lilligren said. "That will take a high level of training and time." Minneapolis police Inspector Donald Harrison was pleased at the prospect of hiring a diverse group of police officers. Harrison said he has been working with other African-American officers to bring minorities on board for almost 16 years. "The mayor told me, 'You hire people and I will find the money,' " Harrison said. Rybak said that his budget address was the first time he stood at the podium at City Hall with good budget news. "I'm proud to look you in the eye and say, I think we're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. Leila Fadel can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or 612-338-8198 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
