During a public meeting on the city”s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Columbus City Council heard from representatives of various organizations, who pleaded for the council to either fund them at a level they were previously funded or increase funding.
Facing a budget deficit of $159,424.12, the council earlier cut the amount of funding requested by more than 20 agencies or organizations receiving financial assistance from the city.
Elizabeth Johnson, president of the Columbus Arts Council board of directors, was the first to speak, reminding the council the agency serves more than 8,000 students with its Young People”s Artist Series program, which brings national and regional performances to Columbus, adding “a bit of tax revenue to the city,” and offers community support and education grants, among other things.
She also noted two of the Arts Council facility”s air conditioners will need replacement in the next year and the organization would have to “cut essential programming,” if the council proceeds with a budget cut.
The city gave the Arts Council $9,500 for its 2010 budget; the agency requested $9,000, but the council is considering an appropriation of $8,000.
“You guys know what we do and you know what we attempt to do,” Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Executive Director Roger Short told the council. “We haven”t been in the 21st century long; this cut will take us back to the 20th century and to our 1996 or 1997 budget.”
The council allocated $545,000 in 2010 to the CLRA, which requested the same amount for fiscal year 2011. The council is considering an allocation of $525,000.
On behalf of the Council on Aging, Noah Summerall asked the City Council to consider the agency”s responsibility of serving 259 clients with transportation services and 30 clients with home-delivered meals.
The council is considering allocating $22,000 to the agency, which received $26,135 this year and asked for the same amount for FY 2011.
Joyce Tucker, director of Safe Haven, which offers services to women and children affected by domestic violence, noted Mississippi has the second highest incidence of domestic violence in the nation.
The council allocated $10,000 to Safe Haven last year, but is considering cutting the allocation to $7,500 for FY 2011.
Columbus-Lowndes Public Library Director Alice Shands noted cutting the library”s funding will result in the loss of a $100,000 Mississippi Library Commission personnel incentives grant in 2013, according to “maintenance of effort” requirements to ensure local governments maintain funding of Mississippi libraries.
This year, the council allocated $250,000 to the library, which requested $274,927 for the upcoming fiscal year. The council is considering a $225,000 allocation for FY 2011.
“We serve an average of 1,000 people a day,” Shands said. “It”s a well-used library. It”s an essential community information resource.”
“Everyone knows Columbus Main Street and how much we do,” said Columbus Main Street Director Amber Murphree Brislin, noting the agency has received the same amount of funding — $22,000 of which $2,000 pays the dues for the organization to be a Mississippi Main Street community — for the past 10 years.
The council is considering allocating $18,500 for the upcoming fiscal year.
“Funding should be based on our performance,” Brislin said, reporting in the past two years, Columbus Main Street has helped bring nine new businesses downtown, five businesses have expanded, three business facades were rehabilitated and two upper-floor housing units were developed.
Columbus Main Street also produces more than 40 events throughout the year, among other things, she added.
“Columbus Main Street definitely has an impact on the quality of life in Columbus,” Brislin said, explaining the agency, which also manages the Hitching Lot Farmers” Market at the request of the city, operates on an annual budget of only $115,000.
“We really stretch every dollar as far as we possibly can,” she said. “This is a time we”ve got to move forward. We cannot move backwards.”
On behalf of the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, Juliette Sharp spoke, asking the council to reconsider its current allocation of $60,000.
For this year”s budget, the council allocated $65,000; the agency requested $77,000.
“We”ve had ongoing problems trying to get the finances to do the things we want to do,” she said. “We”re trying to build a new facility. We had big hopes and dreams and we have downsized and downsized and downsized.
“A lot of people laugh and say these are only animals,” she added. “But they”re God”s creatures too, so we need to take care of them.”
Representatives from the Greater Columbus Learning Center, Contact Helpline, the Golden Triangle Area Agency on Aging and the Dream 365 organization, which produces events celebrating and honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also asked the council to reconsider cutting their appropriations.
And County Administrator Ralph Billingsley, a member of the E-911 board of directors, told the council it would take a commitment of $93,500 from the city and $93,500 from the county for E-911 to operate in FY 2011.
The council is considering an allocation of $60,000 for FY 2011.
At the end of the meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Charlie Box addressed the audience of about 50.
“We have a couple options and one is we can raise taxes,” he said of plans to balance the budget, potentially without further cutting appropriations or money budgeted for city departments. “Raise your hand if you wouldn”t mind paying higher taxes, instead of losing appropriations.”
About nine audience members raised their hands.
The meeting was held only to gather public input; no action was taken by the council, which has until Sept. 15 to adopt the city”s FY 2011 budget and adopt the millage.
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