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Council votes out election system By JESSICA SMITH Medford leaders will take up discussions about city spending in June, but they likely won't talk about whether to install an electronic voting system in the City Council chambers. A committee that reviewed the budget dropped the $7,200 contraption from the recommended spending plan for 2001-02, estimated at $89.3 million. "It seemed like an unnecessary item," said Michael Graham, a paralegal and a citizen member of the budget committee. Some in the community questioned the expenditure earlier this year. Graham and nine others in the 18-member committee - composed of Medford residents, the mayor and City Council - voted on Wednesday to eliminate the voting system from the recommended budget. The committee finalized its recommendation Monday. The council will review the proposed budget - the city's first two-year spending plan - at its June 7 meeting. As approved by the budget committee, the budget includes $89.3 million for 2001-02 and about $83 million for 2002-03. Among other things, the two-year budget sets aside money for city operations, road projects, parks acquisition and renovations to City Hall, including the third-floor council chambers. Mayor Lindsay Berryman and three council members - Ed Chun, Sal Esquivel and Claudette Moore - voted to drop the electronic voting system from the renovation budget. Though council members Jim Key and John Michaels wanted to keep the voting system, they said they don't expect city leaders to reinstate the funding. "It's a dead issue," said Michaels. He and Key said the electronic system would ensure council members voted their conscience. But Esquivel, who has doubts about the entire chamber renovation project, said the voting system is unnecessary. "I'm a big boy," he said. "I can say 'yea' or 'nay' and I don't need $7,200 worth of electronic equipment to give my vote." Budget highlights include: City Hall renovations - $3.96 million Acquisition of the Heitkamp property for a sports park in south Medford - $5.49 million Road improvements, including the extension of Garfield Street and a half dozen other projects tagged as "high priorities" - $7 million A 12 percent reduction in spending in the next biennium, which begins July 1. The city plans fewer capital expenses over the next two years than the current fiscal year Expenditures for 2000-01 are estimated at $93.9 million. The city's permanent tax rate is $5.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $530 in taxes per year. The budget is the city's first attempt at a biennial financial plan, which officials say will help with long-range planning. Though the city can't legally adopt a two-year budget, Medford is allowed to approve a biennial plan. Formal adoption of the second year of the plan would be required in June 2002. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.