Council member praises budget hearings

After budget hearings Monday, City Councilwoman Linda Bennett said individual departments may be able to be more collaborative.

“I think we see that we have some common goals that are shared by different departments, but I’m not sure how we’re partnering to make sure that our partnering efforts are as effective as they can be,” she said.

For example, she said, departments within city government may be able to work together and streamline efforts to get messages out to the public.

Her comments came as City Council members wrapped up a third day of budget presentations, this time from the human services, general services and the departments of Neighborhood Services and Community Development. Last week, the council heard from the Fire, Police, Personnel, Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Education, Arts and Culture departments.

The requests are for the 2008-09 fiscal year. There was not time for the Finance Department and that presentation will be rescheduled, Ms. Bennett said.

Meanwhile, nonprofit agencies will present requests to the council Monday beginning at 9 a.m.

Paul Page, director of general services, told council members that his department tries to keep its budget as small as possible.

“When we do have a need, we’ll be asking for it,” he said.

While general services’ requested figure is 19.5 percent higher than the current year, that increase is attributed to expenses that are to be reimbursed by the federal government and also to funding for insurance claims and damages, which has been under the personnel department budget, Mr. Page said after the meeting.

The Human Services Department is requesting $1,333,477 from the city for the upcoming fiscal year. That amount represents no change from the city’s contribution in the current budget.

Dan Johnson, chief of staff to Mayor Ron Littlefield, said that only 10 percent of the Human Services Department budget is funded by the city. The rest of the department’s budget comes from other sources such as the federal government, he said.

The Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Development also requested a flat amount — $2,016,781 — for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, according to city figures.

WHAT’S NEXT

n Multiple nonprofit groups will appear before City Council members during budget hearings on Monday. The organizations include Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors, the Enterprise Center, Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise and Community Impact of Chattanooga Inc. The presentations start at 1000 Lindsay St. at 9 a.m.

BUDGET REQUESTS

These are 2008-09 fiscal year budget requests from various departments for city funding, compared to the current fiscal year:

* Human Services: requested $1,333,477 (no increase from current figure)

* General Services: requested $2,874,210 (19.5 increase from current figure*)

* Neighborhood Services and Community Development: requested $2,016,781 (no increase from current figure)

* Increase comprised of money that is to be reimbursed by the federal government or funds that have been under the personnel department budget.

Source: City of Chattanooga