of the fiscal 2012 budget. And first on the agenda is a roll call. Then we'll have a motion. Mr. Farmer? Mr. Ford? Ms. Gorton? Here. Ms. Henson? Here. Mr. Kay? Here. Mr. Lane? Here. Ms. Lawless? Here. Mr. Martin? Mr. McCord? Mr. Myers? Here. Mr. Stennett? Here. Mr. Beard? Mr. Blues? Here. Ms. Crosby? Here. Mr. Ellinger? Here. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'll ask the floor open for discussion, but before I do that, I do want to say acknowledge and thanks to the council. You all have had a very long day. and I've got to confess that I don't know if I feel better for the long day, but if you will allow me, since you all have had, I know it's been tough to take seven hours, but if you'll allow just an executive response, a couple of minutes, because I do appreciate the long hours you've devoted not just today but to the whole process and to the members of the administration as well. I also understand that we will have different points of view on what should and shouldn't be included in a budget. But I do think that the actions the Council has taken today have served to magnify and clarify the differences that exist between a Council majority today and my own philosophy toward addressing Lexington's financial condition, how to go about reducing the size of government while retaining the quality of services, the highest quality that we can. By restoring most of the specific reductions I've proposed in my budget, the Council really opposes the philosophy that right-sizing and outsourcing and eliminating certain programs and positions is essential in restoring financial responsibility to our city government. Now, I'm sure in the short term a budget can pass that doesn't contain the majority of my proposed reductions, but the votes today, in my view, do compromise our ability to improve government efficiency and reduce costs to the taxpayers. I proposed extremely modest reductions in personnel, though difficult, less than 1% of our workforce, both to balance a budget and to begin a long-term process of surgically addressing structural changes, which I believe, and I know you recognize, the government really desperately needs. My solutions aren't magical. You've looked at them. You all have carefully looked at them. But they are solutions that people in business have long been dealing with ever since this Great Recession hit us. I believe that these solutions are a start. The council majority has chosen not to support them. I appreciate your point of view and right to do what you've done, and I surely understand the good intentions involved. I am concerned that increasing government costs where there are limited sources of recurring revenues is a mistake, A mistake that moves us closer to the time when this budget will require meat axe cuts or citizens will be saddled with increased taxes. In the middle still of a really very, very tough and difficult recession. I'm almost through. Either scenario will, in turn, lead to making Lexington less competitive in the long run. Less able to build those sidewalks on Versailles Road or North Lyme and all across the city. I was watching. So as this process moves toward conclusion, I would again caution that we are at the beginning of a longer process to address structural problems and financial realities we've chosen to ignore for really far too long. So thank you all very much for allowing the executive response for a couple of minutes. We are then prepared for a motion. Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate your comments, and thank you for allowing us to go a little bit late in our meeting. We all appreciate that. I move to accept and place on the docket for first reading a motion to approve the fiscal year 12 budget as amended by the Council. Second. There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All right. Hearing none, if we're ready to vote, I'll ask for the vote. All in favor, please indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, no. The motion carries. Vice Mayor Gordon. Thank you, Mayor. Okay. I had announced earlier that Connie Underwood would be, Today was her last day, and I just learned that she's going to work through Thursday to give the council support to follow through on our actions. So thank you, Connie. All right. Is there anything further to come before the council? I will say that I believe there's birthday cake in the caucus room, right? Happy birthday to the vice mayor and tomorrow, I believe, to Council Member Blues. No? You're tomorrow. Oh, okay. You're tomorrow. All right. Not till Thursday. Not till Thursday. An eternity away. All right. Is there anything further to come before the council? If not, is there a motion to adjourn? Is there a motion to adjourn? Is there a second? There is a second. All in favor, please indicate by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, no. Motion carries. Thank you all. The End Thank you.