BUDGET SCARE
In the recent edition of the Pickerington Sun Times Ms. Bushman is quoted as stating that if the council does not pass the 2003 Budget by emergency legislation at the December 17, 2002 council meeting there would be dire consequences for the city. This was being cited as an example of why the charter amendment concerning emergency measures (which was approved by over 80% of the voters) was bad for the city. Illustrating her point, she even went so far as to state that if the budget were not passed by the city council on an emergency basis on December 17, 2002 this would result in the employees of the City of Pickerington not being paid. I have no idea why Ms. Bushman would make such an alarmist statement, but it is simply in error. It leaves the impression that the City Government may grind to a halt on January 1, 2003 simply because one councilperson refused to agree to emergency passage of the City Manager?’s Budget. Once again, this is simply not true.
The budget process is clearly delineated in the City Charter. Under the City Charter, the City Manager is required to submit a budget. A budget must be adopted by City Council five days prior to the end of the calendar year, or December 26, 2002. The charter, however, provides that if council has not acted with finality as to the budget by that time, the budget, as submitted by the City Manager, would be deemed as being adopted in accordance with the deadline. This provision specifically avoids the problem of the City being without a budget at the commencement of the New Year due to the failure of the council, for whatever reason, to adopt a budget prior to the deadline. In fact, the budget, as submitted by the City Manager, or Ms. Bushman?’s budget, would simply be deemed adopted as is.
Accordingly, despite Ms. Bushman?’s assertions, the council does not need to pass the budget by emergency measure on December 17, 2002 or, for that matter, pass any budget whatsoever. In fact, a budget would be in place even if the council decided not to meet on that date. Regardless of what transpires, or fails to transpire on December 17, 2002, the Charter of the City of Pickerington ensures that a budget will be in place at the beginning of the year. The employees will be paid in accordance with that budget. The City will not shut down. The sky will not fall. The recent passage of the charter amendment on emergency legislation does not create a potential budget crisis.
Hopefully any city employee who was unnecessarily alarmed by the statement in the newspaper will now understand that there is no crisis and will be able to enjoy the Holidays.
By David Shaver
In the recent edition of the Pickerington Sun Times Ms. Bushman is quoted as stating that if the council does not pass the 2003 Budget by emergency legislation at the December 17, 2002 council meeting there would be dire consequences for the city. This was being cited as an example of why the charter amendment concerning emergency measures (which was approved by over 80% of the voters) was bad for the city. Illustrating her point, she even went so far as to state that if the budget were not passed by the city council on an emergency basis on December 17, 2002 this would result in the employees of the City of Pickerington not being paid. I have no idea why Ms. Bushman would make such an alarmist statement, but it is simply in error. It leaves the impression that the City Government may grind to a halt on January 1, 2003 simply because one councilperson refused to agree to emergency passage of the City Manager?’s Budget. Once again, this is simply not true.
The budget process is clearly delineated in the City Charter. Under the City Charter, the City Manager is required to submit a budget. A budget must be adopted by City Council five days prior to the end of the calendar year, or December 26, 2002. The charter, however, provides that if council has not acted with finality as to the budget by that time, the budget, as submitted by the City Manager, would be deemed as being adopted in accordance with the deadline. This provision specifically avoids the problem of the City being without a budget at the commencement of the New Year due to the failure of the council, for whatever reason, to adopt a budget prior to the deadline. In fact, the budget, as submitted by the City Manager, or Ms. Bushman?’s budget, would simply be deemed adopted as is.
Accordingly, despite Ms. Bushman?’s assertions, the council does not need to pass the budget by emergency measure on December 17, 2002 or, for that matter, pass any budget whatsoever. In fact, a budget would be in place even if the council decided not to meet on that date. Regardless of what transpires, or fails to transpire on December 17, 2002, the Charter of the City of Pickerington ensures that a budget will be in place at the beginning of the year. The employees will be paid in accordance with that budget. The City will not shut down. The sky will not fall. The recent passage of the charter amendment on emergency legislation does not create a potential budget crisis.
Hopefully any city employee who was unnecessarily alarmed by the statement in the newspaper will now understand that there is no crisis and will be able to enjoy the Holidays.
By David Shaver
