Fresh Loaf

The Atlanta City Council’s Finance Committee voted unanimously today to send Mayor Shirley Franklin’s budget proposal — which includes a 3-mill tax hike — on to the full Council for a vote later this month. This was a formal necessity; the Council must approve an annual budget before the beginning of the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Last year, the final vote didn’t take place until late on June 27, which, because it was a Friday, represented the last possible moment the Council could act without being in violation of the city charter. This year, the vote is scheduled for June 29, a Monday, which gives them one more day to find a consensus if they reach a stalemate.

But chances are, they won’t.

As of this writing, I count at least nine likely votes in support of the mayor’s budget. Franklin only needs eight to win. The Finance Committee sent the budget forward without a recommendation, so no members would need to tip their hands in advance, but the chatter at City Hall is that the budget will pass.

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On Wednesday the Atlanta City Council Finance Committee briefly discussed a proposal by Councilman Lamar Willis that … well, let’s just say it ain’t gonna make Shirley very happy.

Like most council members, Willis is fuming over the mayor’s recent announcement that the city is facing a $70 million budget shortfall because of unanticipated expenses and accounting mistakes. Therefore, Willis wants to rescind a number of pay-grade increases for city executives approved in November.

The increases boosted the salary ranges for top management positions, from chief of staff (max earnings rose from $208K to $237K) to chief financial officer (from $216K to $271K) to the budget chief (from $132K to $170K).

Councilman Howard Shook, who chairs Finance, says the increases were enacted last fall to make the city more competitive in attracting top-flight management talent. Besides, he says, since the pay-grade adjustments didn’t translate into immediate raises for the affected employees, the total cost of the measure has been estimated at about $10,000 so far.

“This is not how you overcome a $70 million deficit,” Shook says.

Perhaps, says Willis, but “it sends a message to the executives who possibly put us in this situation.”

The proposal has support from fellow council members Natalyn Archibong, C.T. Martin, Felicia Moore and Ivory Young. Still, Willis agreed to hold it until the next meeting to allow time to see what the actual cost of the pay-grade increases has been.

Who will figure up that figure? The city finance department, of course.

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