WPCNR CITY HALL LEAKS. April 5, 2005: The big green and white book on City Councilpersons' desk visible in the WPGA-TV, Channel 75 telecast of the Monday Common Council meeting Monday  turned out to be the proposed 2005-2006 budget.  The appearance of the budget shocked observers. The budget was apparently was delivered by immaculate conception by the capital projects committee and city budget committee at internal meetings inside city hall with virtually no notice to the media or the citizenry, and no mention of same by any member of the Common Council.

Preliminary reports on those familiar with the budget talking to concerned city hall sources indicate there may be a reason for that: The 2004-05 budget has failed to meet projections primarily due to an approximate $500,000 additional overrun in Department of Public Safety overtime and Department of Parking revenues falling $500,000 short, (of a projected $4.7 Million) making at least a $1 Million shortfall. If that is the limit of the shortfall, this translates into at least a 3% property tax increase to begin. These figures come from persons believed to be reliable, but since city hall never returns calls on budget questions, we cannot immediately confirm this. The budget book was not available to the media Tuesday, according to media sources who asked for it. It should be available in the City Clerk's office Wednesday.

Susan Habel,  Commissioner of Planning delivered good news on sales tax, remarking last night at the Comprehensive Planning Review Committee public meeting,  that the city is projecting a $4 million increase in sales tax collections (putting the projection of sales tax increase to $42 Million by the end of 2004-2005 fiscal year in the new budget), which she said would be devoted to restoring the city's fund balance. Ms. Habel is believed to be a reliable source.

One legislative official in attendance at the Comprehensive Planning Review Committee public meeting, said he was "shocked" to see the budget book appear when Ms. Habel held it up. So were most of the audience. Ms. Habel did not give any details on the state of the 2005-06 budget to the CPRC, except for the juicy nugget about the sales tax.