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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: January 18, 2007 City will consider budget controls By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings City of Ashland officials are considering changes to the budgeting process that would make it easier to curb spending. Earlier this week, Ashland City Council members heard a presentation from residents John Stromberg, Jim Moore and Randall Hopkins about the changes. The three are advocating that the city start each year's budgeting process using a baseline figure from last year's budget. City staff would have to explain why any increases are needed and what the impact would be on residents and businesses from increased taxes, fees and charges. The Ashland Citizens' Budget Committee would then decide whether to add new spending. Under the current process, the budget committee looks at the proposed budget — most often larger than the previous year — and tries to make cuts. They also are presented with a separate list of additional spending items that they can choose to approve. City staff members are looking into the concept of establishing a baseline budget, as well as methods for clearly communicating the impact of added spending on citizens, said City Administrator Martha Bennett. The issue will come back to the council in the near future, she said. Councilor Alice Hardesty said she looks forward to further discussion on the ideas presented by Stromberg, Moore and Hopkins. "I think it's a very good idea," she said. "I think they each have done a lot of homework. They have studied the budget process and really know about budgeting. It's something we should take very seriously." Stromberg is a management consultant, Hopkins is a lawyer who represented accountants and auditors and Moore is a retired insurance executive who served nine years on the city's budget committee. Councilor Eric Navickas said the idea of shifting to a baseline budget and having budget committee members approve any spending increases has real potential. But he worried about impacts to city employees. "It has potential as long as we ensure that personnel continue to receive adequate wages and salary increases," Navickas said. The proposal appears to have merit, said Mayor John Morrison, but the City Council needs to be aware of possible consequences and ramifications of making the changes. Moore, Hopkins and Stromberg have argued that the city of Ashland faces long-term budget problems, including millions of dollars in unfunded debt for the Ashland Fiber Network and sewage treatment plant. Unless the\ city trims spending now, it will face more severe budget problems in the future, they said. Increasing fees, charges and taxes to keep up with rising city costs also makes living in Ashland less affordable and puts strain on institutions like Southern Oregon University and Ashland Community Hospital, they said. The city budget increased from $86.45 million in the 2003/2004 fiscal year to $101.56 million in the 2006/2007 fiscal year, which ends June 30. Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 479-8199 or [email protected]. Current Comments: Wow. Both Alice Hardesty and Eric Navickas supporting some hare-brained scheme backed by John Stromberg. Let me get my red pen..it's a special day. I would suggest your report save this bit for future cut and paste usage. enough - ashland, or - January 18th, 4:42 PM It would be prudent for the city to reduce the budget by at least 20%. For a little berg like Ashland a budget of $101.56 million is way too much. A good start would be to start contracting for many city services. JD - Ashland, OR - January 18th, 5:38 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us