Metro budget "discussions" begin March 28th.

by Rod Williams - Metro will start the formal budget "discussions" March 28th. They were always called budget "hearings" prior to Mayor Megan Barry rebranding them as "discussions."  "Discussions" sounds so much more "collaborative" and all  touchy-freely. I prefer "hearings."  I hope the next mayor goes back to having budget "hearings."

What happens at these "discussions" is that each department appears before the mayor and presents their budget request. What really happens is that prior to the discussions the mayor's office has already told each department head that there is not going to be a tax increase this year so most department heads will present a budget request that only calls for a modest increase. In years in which the mayor is going to ask for a tax increase, Department heads say houses will burn, police will not be able to stop a crime wave and libraries will close if they do not get a big budget increase. It is somewhat a sham. Some department heads really will plead for more money but they will not go overboard, they kind of already know what to expect. Never does a department head say they need less money than previously.

At the conclusion of the budget discussions, the Mayor and the Finance Director draw up a budget.  On May 1, the Mayor and/or the Finance Director present the Recommended Budget to the Metro Council. The Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee files the budget and tax levy ordinances. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) then prepares the Recommended Budget Book for Council's review. This is known as the "mayor's budget."

During April to June, the Council and the Budget and Finance Committee conduct public hearings as well as hearings with each individual department. The budget is approved on three readings, and may be amended or substituted on the third reading. OMB prepares a substitute budget ordinances for the Budget and Finance Committee as required. This is called the "substitute budget," or the "council's budget." Even if taxes are not going to be increased, the Council always shifts some money around and changes the mayors budget.

On June 30, the Council passes the budget ordinances, and the Mayor signs the budget ordinances into law. If the Council fails to pass a balanced budget by June 30, the Recommended Budget and tax rates take effect by default. In other words, if the Council does not pass their substitute budget the mayor's budget become the budget even if Council does not vote on it.

As anyone who had read my blog for any time knows, I am a conservative. I would like to see Metro cut non-essential services and not raise taxes.  I would like for the city to stop the massive fraud and waste and corporate welfare. I would like to see the city close General Hospital and abolish the Human Relations Commission and make other cuts. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen.  Without  Metro being willing to make cuts to services we need a tax increase. We probably should have had a tax increase last year. I could support a modest tax increase. This being an election year Mayor Briley is not going to propose a tax increase. The cooperative press is not going to write stories about how we are on the brink of disaster. We are not, but be sure that that is what we would be reading if the mayor was proposing a tax increase.  While we are not facing a disaster, employees deserve a pay increase and fire and police are under staffed. Also, we need to budget more money to debt service to pay down Metro's debt.

Look out next year! If Briley is reelected, in 2020 he will propose a whopping tax increase.  No matter who is elected, I expect a proposal for a substantial tax increase in 2020.

The budget "discussion" will be on line for viewing if anyone is interested. They each only last a few minutes and are pretty shallow affairs. They are also open to the public if one wants to go and observe in person.  Below is the City's press release and budget discussion schedule.

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Metro Nashville press release - Mayor David Briley and Metro Finance Director Talia Lomax-O’dneal have released the schedule for upcoming meetings related to the 2019-20 budget.
The Mayor's Budget Discussions will be aired live on Metro Nashville Network and Nashville.gov. All budget discussion videos will be archived and available on YouTube and shown throughout the following weeks on Metro Nashville Network.

Schedule for Thursday, March 28, 2019

Conservation and Historical

• 9:30 a.m. – Codes
• 10:00 a.m. – Planning Commission
• 10:15 a.m. – Beer Permit Board
• 10:30 a.m. – Historical Commission

Health and Social Services

• 10:45 a.m. – Community Education Commission
• 11:00 a.m. – Human Relations Commission
• 1:45 p.m. – Social Services
• 2:00 p.m. – Health Department
• 2:30 p.m. – Hospital Authority
• 3:00 p.m. – Metro Action Commission
• 3:15 p.m. – Justice Integration Services

Location

Historic Metro Courthouse
1 Public Square
Mayor's Media Room
Nashville, TN 37201

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