Clayton Hill
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
I want to compliment the News Tribune's coverage of the 2020 budget process. It gives details by individual city departments regarding their budget input. What strikes me most about each of these detailed budget articles is the closing statement: "The overall proposed mayor-approved budget for FY2020 is more than $65.1 million. The general fund budget for FY2020 is more than $32.9 million." That means roughly half of the budget is usable to the city for normal and highly necessary services and needs. The other half is reserved for dedicated needs - mostly fenced from City Council direct control. I can also understand the mayor's concern this year being reserved due to the unknown effects of both the tornado and the flood on overall spending; that is responsible.
However, if the city is ever to fully justify the spending of our taxes to "bona fide" needs and services, it must look to the elimination of special set-aside accounts and taxes and shift all decisions toward spending to the City Council each fiscal year. The city is considering modifying the control of the park's spending authority by amending the City Charter next spring - from exclusive control by parks to city-administrated funding. That is a start in the right direction. There are other taxes that need to be unfenced, and we citizens must eliminate dedicated taxes in favor of more central control. Then, the city may adequately address streets, drainage and other vital needs more appropriately.