Budget Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Budget Committee of the Whole met on May 15, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, with the Vice Mayor presiding. The committee addressed three agenda items during the session, including two reports that required approval and one informational presentation. The FY 13 Council Link for Finance, Budgeting, Social Services and Outside Agencies Report Out was approved, as was the General Government Link Report Out. The committee also received an informational briefing on the FY 13 Council Budget Schedule. Over the course of the meeting, the committee took 10 motions and votes and heard comments from 5 members of the public.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on May 15, 2012:

Council Members: - Council Member Beard - Council Member Lane - Council Member Farmer - Council Member Ford - Council Member Kay - Council Member Henson - Council Member Martin - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Blues - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Stennett

Commissioners: - Commissioner Mills - Commissioner Driscoll - Commissioner Sally Hamilton

Other Attendees: - Scott Seymour - Jonathan Hollinger - Glenn Ballard

No members were absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The following motions were voted on and passed by voice vote during this meeting:

Funding Recommendations

• Carnegie Center math tutoring program 2:12: Council Member Beard moved to increase funding by $5,250. Motion passed.

• World Trade Center 3:17: Council Member Beard moved to increase funding from $90,950 to $110,000. Motion passed.

• Lyric Theatre 5:30: Council Member Beard moved to increase funding from $135,000 to $150,000 to fulfill the original agreement. Motion passed.

Budget Adjustments

• Neighborhood Development Fund 41:02: Council Member Lane moved to restore $75,225. Motion passed.

• Human Rights Commission 41:33: Council Member Lane moved to add $50,000 for rent and an outreach position. Motion passed.

• Department of Planning, Preservation, and Development 42:11: Council Member Lane moved to add $68,000 for corridor maintenance. Motion passed.

• Council Office professional fees 40:26: Council Member Lane moved to eliminate the $42,000 professional fee line item. Motion passed.

• Commonwealth Attorney's office parking 39:51: Council Member Lane moved to add $4,400 for parking for unpaid law interns. Motion passed.

• Copier usage budget 41:02: Council Member Lane moved to increase the copier usage budget by $7,000. Motion passed.

Adjournment

• Motion to adjourn 1:07:30: Council Member Lane moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Farmer. Motion passed.

All votes were conducted by voice vote with no recorded abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included the following appropriations and amendments to the budget:

Appropriations for Community Organizations and Programs:

• Carnegie Center received an increase of $5,250 to support expansion of its math tutoring program.
• World Trade Center was allocated an additional $19,050 for a part-time trade officer position, printing, computer equipment, and mileage expenses.
• Lyric Theatre received a $15,000 increase to fulfill the original agreement of a $150,000 annual commitment.
• Human Rights Commission was appropriated $50,000 for rent and a community outreach position.

Municipal Department Funding:

• The Neighborhood Development Fund was restored with $75,225.
• Department of Planning, Preservation, and Development received an increase of $68,000 for corridor maintenance.
• Commonwealth Attorney was allocated $4,400 for parking of unpaid law interns.

Council Office Changes:

• The Council Office professional fee line item of $42,000 was eliminated.
• Council Office copier usage budget was increased by $7,000.

These financial actions totaled $286,925 in new appropriations and $42,000 in eliminated funding.

Public Comment

Council members and commissioners addressed several funding and maintenance concerns during the meeting.

Social and Community Services Funding

Council Member Martin highlighted stagnation in funding for social and community services and arts over the past 10 years, despite a $70 million increase in the overall budget 30:50. Martin urged the council to re-examine priorities and redirect funds to support those in need.

Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center

Council Member Lawless expressed concern that the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center was penalized for using LFUCG funds as match money for a federal grant 25:45. Despite the organization's extensive outreach and violence prevention work, Lawless called for a more equitable funding system.

City Corridors and Maintenance

Council Member Henson emphasized the importance of maintaining city corridors and trees, noting that many projects fail due to lack of maintenance 52:45. Henson advocated for allocating personnel and watering trucks to ensure long-term success of these initiatives.

Council Member Blues reinforced this concern, explaining that the Corridors Commission lacks funding for maintenance despite its mission to assess corridors 48:17. Blues stressed that without maintenance, planted trees and shrubbery risk dying, which would undermine the city's aesthetic and economic development goals.

Human Rights Commission Rent Policy

Commissioner Sally Hamilton confirmed that the Human Rights Commission rent increase is part of a broader effort to charge fair market value for LFUCG-owned buildings 55:25. Hamilton stated that the recommended $50,000 increase aligns with this policy to ensure equitable treatment of all tenants.

Contested Items

The May 15, 2012 meeting included three significant areas of contention regarding funding allocations:

Hope Center Funding Cap

The council debated a $666,000 funding cap imposed on the Hope Center despite the organization's high program rankings. The dispute centered on fairness and program impact, as some well-scoring programs remained unfunded due to the cap. This resulted in a split vote among council members, indicating disagreement over whether the funding limitation was appropriate given the center's demonstrated performance.

Corridors Commission Maintenance Funding

Council Members Martin and Blues engaged in heated discussion over how maintenance funding should be allocated. The disagreement focused on whether funds should go to the Corridors Commission or be directed instead to city personnel and equipment. Underlying concerns included questions about long-term sustainability and the appropriate level of city responsibility for maintenance operations.

Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center Funding Structure

The council faced community opposition regarding the funding approach for the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center. The agency was penalized for utilizing match funds to support a federal grant, despite providing broad community services. This penalty raised concerns about the fairness of the overall funding system and its potential negative impact on a vital community program.

FY 13 Council Link for Finance, Budgeting, Social Services and Outside Agencies

1:00

Council Member Beard presented recommendations from the Finance, Social Services, and Partner Agencies Link regarding funding allocations for fiscal year 2013.

Funding Recommendations

The presentation included proposed funding increases for three organizations:

• Carnegie Center
• World Trade Center
• Lyric Theatre

Presentation Details

Council Member Beard outlined the rationale behind each funding recommendation, explaining the basis for the proposed increases to these outside agencies.

Outcome

The recommendations were approved.

General Government Link Report Out

Council Member Lane presented recommendations from the General Government Link during this agenda item 37:37. The presentation included proposed funding adjustments across several city departments and offices.

The funding recommendations addressed the following areas:

• Commonwealth Attorney
• Council Office
• Neighborhood Development Fund
• Human Rights Commission
• Department of Planning, Preservation, and Development

The item was approved by the council.

FY 13 Council Budget Schedule

Council Member Lane led a review of the upcoming budget schedule for the council. The discussion focused on key dates and deliverables in the budget process.

Key Information Presented:

• The next link report out is scheduled for Thursday, May 17th, at 3:00 PM
• The meeting included a brief discussion on unresolved items from the previous meeting

Outcome:

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or decisions required. The council was provided with the budget schedule timeline to ensure all members were aware of upcoming deadlines and reporting requirements.