As reported by Amanda Joering Alley on nky.com, Alexandria adopted a revised and balanced budget at their meeting on Thursday, June 16, 2011.
Of interest is the no vote by Councilmember Joe Anderson.
While Councilmember Anderson cannot be compelled to explain his vote one has to wonder why he didn’t.
Does Councilmember Anderson think that he knows something that the rest of the council doesn’t? What is it about the balanced budget that he does not like?
Just wondering as a politician usually likes to explain the reason for their opposition on an issue.
Alexandria adopts revised, balanced budget
By Amanda Joering Alley • 8:13 pm, Jun 16, 2011
After presenting the first reading of the 2011-2012 budget that left the city in the red $182,000, the Alexandria Council adopted a revised, balanced budget at a meeting Thursday, June 16.
Mayor William Rachford said the revised budget includes road repair bids that came in $85,000 less than estimated and a budget carry over higher than estimated, which both helped to balance the budget.
Another change from the first draft of the budget includes changing the employee benefits, offering employees either a new health insurance plan that the city will pay for or an option to keep the same plan they have this year by paying the difference themselves, Rachford said.
The final budget includes a 1 percent raise based on merit, as opposed to the 3 percent merit raise originally proposed.
Employees are only eligible for merit raises if their supervisor recommends it.
“We also took a fine tooth comb to everything from fuel to office supplies to make cuts where we could,” Rachford said.
The changes left the city with a budget that is about $80,000 in the positive.
Councilwoman Barbara Weber said she is satisfied with the current budget.
“I appreciate all the time and effort Mayor Rachford and the finance committee put into this,” Weber said.
Councilman Joseph Anderson was the only council member to vote no on the proposed budget.
Anderson declined to comment about his decision.
Councilman Stacey Graus said while he hopes the economy improves soon, he feels the council should spend the next year looking at ways to put the city in a better financial situation.
Article is posted at:http://cincinnati.com/blogs/campbellcountyconnects/2011/06/16/alexandria-adopts-revised-balanced-budget/
