Tight Times
Carmel City Council unanimously approves tight budget.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Carmel is in better shape than most cities, but next year's $14 million budget still draws a half million dollars from reserves, says city council newcomer Jason Burnett.
"The end result might have been roughly right, but I don't feel we've put in the effort we should in looking for expenditure cuts," Burnett says.
City staff had originally proposed using more than $800,000 of the city's rainy day money to balance this year's budget, which was approved, June 17, but Burnett and City Councilman Ken Talmage objected, and demanded alternatives.
During the recent campaign, Burnett argued that the city had underestimated its pension liabilities and overstated its financial cushion, because some of the $10 million Mayor Sue McCloud said the city held in reserve was actually earmarked for specific purposes.Neither staff lay-offs nor tax hikes are part of next year's spending plan, but Burnett says the city will likely consider an increase in the hotel tax or paid parking in the village going forward.
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