Capital Plan Holds Up Budget Talks
By 250 News
Monday, February 23, 2009 06:49 PM
Prince George, B.C. - The budget discussions at Prince George City Council are supposed to wrap up tonight but Councilor Cameron Stolz wanted to take a slower approach on the Capital plan.
He pointed out that while the provisional budget documents were available in January and there has been plenty of opportunity for Council to discuss the addition of items that would cost $20 or $50 thousand dollars, he believed they were being rushed on approving a Capital spending plan that called for spending of more than $71 million dollars.
He made a motion that Council go through the plan, item by item, and approve each one. There are 73 funded items on the plan, a further 35 unfunded.
Most Councilors received the report Friday at 4:30. Coouncilor Stolz said he is very concerned that a provisional budget document was presented in January and there were 13 budget enhancements worth a total of $1 million that have been debated over the course of 4 meetings, and the Capital plan with more than a hundred items worth tens of millions was presented with the expectation of an hour or two of discussion.
Stolz put forth a motion that called for each item to be reviewed, approved, defeated or deferred.
"This plan didn't just fall out of the sky" said Councilor Don Bassermann, this plan has been developed over at least four months, and in some cases 13 years." Bassermann says he would support an approach that would see Councilors’ ask for more information and debate on select items. Mayor Dan Rogers says he doesn't need to get the details on why the Elk Centre roof needs to be repaired "I would suspect it leaks" .
Councilor Deborah Munoz said she understands the motion, Councilor Stolz put forward and she would support a motion that would allow Council to set its priorities on capital plans, "There are some I agree with and some I don't agree with."
"This is a transition period" says Councilor Dave Wilbur, as many of the projects were on the list of a previous Council.
Stolz says while there are four Councilors who have had input on previous budgets and capital plans. "But there are four others who have not. Do I think the Elk Centre roof needs to be repaired? Damn rights, but I would like to discuss it."
Councilor Shari Greene says she didn't receive the plan until 10:00 Sunday night, and because she had to work all day she hasn't had an opportunity to look at the plan before the meeting got underway at 4:30.
Mayor Rogers suggested they look at the items, and pull from the list those which need further discussion.
“I suspect that if we go through this item by item we will be adding to staff time and costs as they will need to be here tomorrow, and Wednesday and next week” said the Mayor.
The final vote was 4 in favour of the item by item review (Stolz, Greene, Munoz and Frizzell) and 4 against (Rogers, Bassermann, Wilbur and Skakun). The tie means the motion was defeated.
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Posted by: bohemian on February 23 2009 8:05 PM
The four that called for a careful item by item review should be recommended for their desire to be as thorough as possible and time should not be an obstacle.
I am keeping tabs already for the next municipal election and it isn't easy to get off MY blacklist once a councilor manages to get on it.
Again, take your time, it's our money.
As for the Elk's center roof leaking: Was it repaired properly, recently, how long did it last, did the city get value for the money for the last repair job, if not, why not, how much is it going to cost...etc, you know, basic questions that a homeowner or a business owner would ask when a roof needs a costly repair...the mayor's answer seems to be a bit too superficial.