The City Council cut short a budget session today after the Melton administration failed to present detailed budget revisions.
Department of Administration Director Rick Hill and Chief Administration Officer Robert Walker presented a three-page memo of suggested cuts to departments to address the city’s $4.3 million budget shortfall.
Council members said that formal budget revision proposals are very detailed, sometimes running hundreds of pages, with proposed line-item cuts and explanations of how those cuts would affect city services.
Hill began by reporting that the mayor’s administration had reduced its earlier projected shortfall of $4.3 million to $3.9 million “after many meetings and deliberations,” and he said they had cut $243,953 from the Department of Administration.
After a few minutes, however, Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon complained that the administration’s plan was short on details.
“We see the cuts you’re suggesting, but we’d like to see more information about what specific positions are being closed down and what specific cuts are being made,” Barrett-Simon said.
The three-page document Hill and Walker presented contained only brief descriptions of cuts to entire departments. The memo outlined cuts to Public Works, for instance, in two sentences: “The Public Works Department budget reduction is $411,217. The budget reduction will be accomplished by holding of vacant positions.”
“This meeting is an exercise in futility,” Council President Ben Allen said. “This is going to sound good in the news … but I’m embarrassed I voted for a tax increase last year. … We’ve got police pay increases we’ve got to address, we’ve got jail issues. This whole process here is wrong. I don’t feel like I need any more of this kind of (piecemeal) information until we get what we really need to make tough decisions here. This is all just smoke and mirrors.”
Walker said today’s presentation was not about details.
“We wanted to make a general presentation to the council in a budget committee and then come back before the full council with an actual revised budget, where we will show the line-items for the adjustments being made,” Walker said.
The administration’s three-page memo described $200,640 in cuts to Human and Cultural Services and revealed that the department would reduce pay-outs to outside organizations by $114,857. Human and Cultural Services Department Director Michael Raff explained to the council that the department was cutting pay-outs to the Greater Jackson Arts Alliance by 25 percent.
Allen expressed alarm at that proposal.
“I’m not comfortable cutting and gutting the greater Jackson Arts Alliance that we, the council, voted to fund. I’d like to hear from them before we do this. I know the administration said it just cut $240,000 (from itself), but we just added a quarter of a million dollars on three different positions yesterday,” Allen said, referring to yesterday’s announcement by Walker that the city was financing three assistant chief administration officers, Goldia Revies, Charles Melvin and Valerie Nevels, all with salaries between $70,000 and $80,000.
Walker explained today, however, that there are actually four assistant CAOs now. The fourth is Melton’s sister-in-law Carolyn Redd.
“It appears that we have four assistant chief administration officers, all making enough salary to total $392,952. The thing is, I don’t think Melvin has a desk over there in the CAO’s office with his name plaque on it,” Councilman Marshand Crisler remarked, referring to Charles Melvin.
City Council rejected Melvin as parks and recreation director, but on Tuesday, Walker told the council that Melvin was now an assistant CAO whose duties included running parks and recreation.
“In fact, I don’t think a lot of those assistant CAOs do,” Crisler continued, “and that’s burning me up. Melton is assaulting city government laws and skirting council authority.”
Barrett-Simon called the administration “top-heavy, and getting more top-heavy every day.”
Hill had planned to speak on other potential cuts to the city budget, such as a proposed $144,545 cut to JATRAN and a reduction in the number of city bus routes, but the council voted to suspend the meeting until the administration could produce a line-item budget for review.
Hill said he had not expected the council to render a vote today. “I’m just trying to get some feeling from the council on where we’re (going) with this … then we’ll bring back the final budget. I certainly wouldn’t ask the council to vote on what I presented today. This is just a general overview of the department,” Hill said.
“This is the same junk we’ve been getting for months,” Crisler said, saying council members were “sick of general overviews.”
The Melton administration is already three months overdue on presenting budget revisions to the council.
“They’re hiding the numbers from us,” Crisler said, “and I can’t help but wonder what the reason is.”
Previous Comments
Hill had planned to speak on other potential cuts to the city budget, such as a proposed $144,545 cut to JATRAN and a reduction in the number of city bus routes, but the council voted to suspend the meeting until the administration could produce a line-item budget for review. I’m just going to assume that it has something to do with fuel prices. I just can’t see any other reason because we need more routes. “This is the same junk we’ve been getting for months,” Crisler said, saying council members were “sick of general overviews.” Lord, help me today. What’s up with the detail-phobia over there? Is there something they don’t want the council to know?
#128733 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
JATRAN is already in sad shape. What’s next? Cutting it out completely?
#128734 | Author: Lady Havoc | Date: May 17 2007
Fool me once… shame on you… Fool me twice… shame on me. Fool me the 67th time… well, then it just becomes suspicious on why I keep trusting you. Come on Council! There IS something you can do here. DO IT.
#128735 | Author: LawClerk | Date: May 17 2007
Current State of Affairs in Jackson
#128736 | Author: LawClerk | Date: May 17 2007
LawClerk, I heard about that and forgot to blog about it. That 911 call was a hot mess.
#128737 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
Oh yeah, an excuse to post a good quote: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few.” – Wendell Phillips
#128738 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
“I think we’re dying… we’re dead. Time is going really really really really slow…” Hahahaha…..
#128739 | Author: LawClerk | Date: May 17 2007
A 3 page memo! Be proud you Meltonites who should know better. You know who you are. I know where Kaze is coming from when he says the folks in the inner-city see Melton as a folk hero. The rest of y’all, what is your excuse?
#128740 | Author: pikersam | Date: May 17 2007
3 freaking pages… 3 Freaking pages…. I repeat for the third time 3 freaking pages!!!! I have prepared budgets for my household that is 2 pages; morgage, bills, entertainment, misc, bills, taxes, etc. I have been in charge of a 1/2 million dollar state senate race that the 3 pages was a joke…. Every dime was accounted for; I ran a PAC with a four thousand dollar budget and the fiscal sheet was 8 pages and that was with 1 employee. At this point I deserve now to be a director of something. I can count to 3 and live in Jackson. Apparently that is all it takes to make 80K a year. PS. I have a law degree, passed the bar, and Frank, I will sell out for 80K. 120K if the council actually approves my job. If I get rejected. I can NOT work for 70K a year.
#128741 | Author: AGamm627 | Date: May 17 2007
Pike: my attitude is becoming more of give these people what they want. They want to reward him with high approval numbers, fine. Let them have their train wreck. It might take a year or two but the city finances will explode and the crime will get worse. His putting VERY inexperienced people in high level municipal jobs makes their having future legal trouble a certainty. They want their train wreck, let them have it.
#128742 | Author: Kingfish | Date: May 17 2007
Don’t necessarily disagree with you kingfish. Even mentioned what you said later on. How about this crap in the letters to the Editor today! Mayor: I will continue doing what’s right anyway For the record, I did not grow up watching John Wayne movies. I grew up teaching swimming at a Houston YMCA since age 12. The fact is that I had a very strong father who taught me to follow my heart and do what was right whatever the price might be. Columnist Orley Hood (“Contrite Frank’s gone, Tough Frank’s back and that’s not good,” May 13) should check out the history of the house at 1305 Ridgeway and ask himself what he would have done as a man or as a reporter. Hood should please stop feeding off of your reporters’ stories and get out into the neighborhoods and get the facts. The trial was not about the house. The trial was about corruption at the highest levels of government. I have great respect for Mr. Hood but little for The Clarion-Ledger. He should call Leland Speed to tell him about all of the progress we are making – $1.6 billion in business because the investors have found a mayor who will protect their investments. Anytime Mr. Hood wants to talk with me about my vision and passions, I am available. You guys just do not get it. Doing what is right is different. Frank Melton Buy the lies Meltonite guys… buy the lies…
#128743 | Author: pikersam | Date: May 17 2007
3 freaking pages… 3 Freaking pages…. I repeat for the third time 3 freaking pages!!!! Maybe they can give more pages next time by changing the font to 72 pt.
#128744 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
He should call Leland Speed to tell him about all of the progress we are making – $1.6 billion in business because the investors have found a mayor who will protect their investments. Melton My daddy can beat your daddy up Orley! Yeah, call Leland Speed he’ll set you straight! Umm… Leland, did you hear Councilman Allen today on the radio show? Pretty much told it like it is, and said the mayor is walking all over the law, the constitution, and the rights of the citizens. Was it worth it Leland?
#128745 | Author: pikersam | Date: May 17 2007
L.W., the font was already at least 16 point. It’s good to hear again that Melton’s trial was about “corruption at the highest levels of government.” Yes, because the sheriff and the district attorney tricked Melton into smashing up that house, making it look all crackilicious, and then they conspired to charge him. And “getting out into the neighborhoods” would prove it, because that is, as Hood surely knows, the usual way authorities go about proving corruption cases. First, they interview the house. Second, they interview various passersby. Then, blam!, the whole corrupt house of cards comes down.
#128746 | Author: Brian C Johnson | Date: May 17 2007
What is this corruption that he speaks of and has he contacted the FBI about it instead of to the media?
#128747 | Author: golden eagle ’97 | Date: May 17 2007
I have a feeling Melton doesn’t want to talk to the FBI right now. Goliath didn’t do too bad with their story this time. Note this telling bit at the end: Melton, who was out of town on business, disagreed. The mayor said he backed the administration’s plan but had ideas of his own, including abolishing the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, an agency created through the Legislature decades ago. It’s heartening to read that Melton “backs” his own plan. This is like the president sending a budget to Congress and saying, “Yeah, the secretary of defense has some good ideas, but you know, I’ve got some good ideas myself.”
#128748 | Author: Brian C Johnson | Date: May 17 2007
melton says that he doesn’t read the paper; so, how would he know what Hood said? What is so very sad here is that after the Judge in the Ridgeway property case talked to the court, post trial, like they were two year olds. Still, melton just didn’t get it. This man is so far out in left field that he doesn’t know right from wrong. melton is not a “folk hero.” melton is the product of greed and corruption from those who will sell their mothers out for a dollar and some perception of power. These people know better but, they have all been promised something. There a ministers here in the city who continue to wait on their $40,000 for supporting melton. In the past, we have had an internal and external audit for the City. Where are the results of both? Also, what exactly will these four (4) “Administrators” do. What does frank plan to do with all of the other folks claiming to be in charge. Does he really think that he deserves $120,000 + perks/yr to teach swimming at the Farish St. YMCA? Has he moved his office there yet? I understand that there is some resistance from board members. I’m still puzzled by the fact that melton would work for the MBN “free.” but, is draining every dime from the City to include his salary and favors for his gang. melton needs to know that his vision for this City is blind and that the people here are slowly but surely perishing. …and this “PASSION” thing he is always talking about lacks grace and understanding.
#128749 | Author: justjess | Date: May 17 2007
L.W., the font was already at least 16 point. WHAAAAAAAT? Please tell me you’re just talking about titles and subtitles. Please. Remember when you were a kid and the teacher told you to write a 100-word essay about your summer vacation? “My summer vacation was very, very, very, very, very, very, very fun.”
#128750 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
I’m not sure I know who the “Meltonites” are – I hear them on Sunday afternoons, but they seem to mostly from West Jackson. I don’t believe they are either reading the JFP, or looking at the website. Who is giving them the kool-aid to drink? They are just as much victims as the rest of us (I’m a northeast Jackson resident). Let’s just hope that there are enough of us left in the City when new elections come up!
#128751 | Author: fsy3 | Date: May 17 2007
You have some good points fsy3 about us being victims and who Meltonites are. However, there is a strong contingent of “meltonites” (a.k.a. melton apologists) in North Jackson, Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Co. that read this paper, and know what they are. 😉 Yet, it’s the clan resting here in NJackson that seems to be the most stubborn of the groups that blindly follow Melton. Sure they show cracks once in while; but, then another sound bite hits WLBT, and they settle down.
#128752 | Author: pikersam | Date: May 17 2007
Adam Lynch did a wonderful artice entitled: The Blind Giant: Insurance Companies Play By Their Own Rules Check it out!
#128753 | Author: justjess | Date: May 17 2007
I had our forensic experts (er, Adam and Matt) look at the memo, and they split over whether it’s 14 or 16 point font. They both agreed, however, that it was “big, blocky text,” and they pointed out that there is an inch of daylight between some of the entries. For instance, here is my rough reproduction of the top of page 2: FIRE DEPARTMENT: 1. No budget reductions. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. No budget reductions. Honestly, the whole thing could have fit in a page and a half.
#128754 | Author: Brian C Johnson | Date: May 17 2007
Thanks for that tip of the hat to Adam, justjess. I made it a link, and I encourage everyone to read this story, which didn’t necessarily get the attention it deserved. Not only will you learn about the current state of insurance, post-Katrina, but there’s some great material in there about tort reform. For example, tort reformers promised that their legislation would entice more doctors to our state, but tort reform had no impact at all on the rate at which doctors have set up shop here. As jess said, check it out.
#128755 | Author: Brian C Johnson | Date: May 17 2007
Dead space works in the art world, not government documents. This is not a PowerPoint presentation. I would never prepare a document with text larger than 12 pt. Larger text belongs to titles only. Didn’t they go to college?
#128756 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 17 2007
Piker, I honestly don’t believe that ther are a lot of NE Jackson folks who have bought in to the Melton deal, especially at this point. I must admit, our whole family (4 voters) voted for him, but from all that I have heard from my northern neighbors, to the person, we regret the votes we cast.
#128757 | Author: fsy3 | Date: May 17 2007
Also, people in NE Jackson have minds, and follow the news as well. It behooves none of us to have the shenanigans going on at present. We want to see the city move forward, and also expand the tax base – we’re dying from it now!
#128758 | Author: fsy3 | Date: May 17 2007
I live in N.E Jackson. I have been shocked by the number of my neighbors that Cheer Melton on. The catch phrase is “getting those democrats in line”. I moved here in 1995 and thought I had wandered into the Twilight Zone. Kirk Fordice the Governor was running around wearing a gun and slavery had just been officially been abolished by ratification of the 13th amendment. Now I know I am In the Twilight Zone . I have worked and lived all over the world but nothing prepared me for Frank Melton. It seems like he is putting together the ultimate Wise Guy Crew and nothing will stand in his way.
#128759 | Author: Slider | Date: May 19 2007
I live in N.E Jackson. I have been shocked by the number of my neighbors that Cheer Melton on. The catch phrase is “getting those democrats in line”. Geez, I wonder what they would say about independents. I’d better watch my back.
#128760 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 19 2007
What are they going to do when “those democrats” vote Sheriff McMillian out? They may think getting rid of Faye is all cool and stuff. But, if the sheriff is voted out, then the reign of terror will be begin. It won’t matter how many “Larry Nesbits” you have on the reserve force. Our leadership at JPD has failed us already. Wait until this yahoo gets into office. The guy from Bolton would even be worse! But, I’m apt to kick back and watch this train wreck happen. Your neighbors will be commuting their children to JA if they keep the blinders on and racist attitudes up. Just voting for a black person doesn’t mean we’ve come along way.
#128761 | Author: pikersam | Date: May 19 2007
But, I’m apt to kick back and watch this train wreck happen. Your neighbors will be commuting their children to JA if they keep the blinders on and racist attitudes up. Just voting for a black person doesn’t mean we’ve come along way. Right. If the black person has an “overseer” mentality, we’re still up the feces creek.
#128762 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 19 2007
woo hoo. readers on fablechat giving it to CL reporter for sloppy ass reporting. fablechat
#128763 | Author: Kingfish | Date: May 19 2007
Right, how do you leave out the Larkin detail? Have they reported, yet, that Melton withdrew his nomination? Are they leaving that out because we broke it? FableChat, indeed!
#128764 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 19 2007
yeah, the fablechat is doing better reporting than the reporters are. sad. and one thing I will give props for. Yesterday’s CL editorial referred to those who defend Bush’s position on funding for the Iraq war as apologists. I’ve had some tough arguments with you, Brian, and itodd on here about Iraq but yet I’ve yet to be referred to as an apologist. I like the way the editorial takes someone who might have a serious, thought-out position and believe or think that they are right in taking the stand they are, and belittling them as an “apologist”. Funny part was, the paper never took a stand itself in the editorial. It just said polls said blah blah blah and never actually took a side but it did refer to one side as apologists.
#128765 | Author: Kingfish | Date: May 19 2007
Donna, did you see this comment over there? Welcome JFP readers. Does Donna Ladd pay any property taxes? So, you’re not a real Jacksonian if you pay rent instead of a mortgage? Hmm…
#128766 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 19 2007
Right. Only people who own houses matter to N-JAMMers. What classist goobers. We don’t own a house, yet, but we own a newspaper. That’s a slight investment in Jackson—to put every dime we have in a locally owned newspaper, don’t you think? On that note, though, we are shopping for a house (finally got time to think about it, thanks to the growth of the paper). Let me know if anyone sees a good deal in Fondren. We want to be close enough to walk to work. Or ride scooters! We want at least three bedrooms—master, guest, a writing studio—with hardwood floors and a good kitchen for Todd. I would love a real laundry room and a good mud room for all these formerly homeless kit-kats we have running around. Willie Hoyt, King Edward and Little Deuce were all born on the streets of Jackson. That must count for something in the Qualifying to Be a Real Jacksonian Race. Snicker.
#128767 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 19 2007
go look in NE Jackson. ALot of homes for sale. and I’m not joking. not one bit.
#128768 | Author: Kingfish | Date: May 19 2007
Too far from work. Need to be able to walk to work. That’s a habit I picked up in that rental-filled backwash called Manhattan. 😉
#128769 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 19 2007
We don’t own a house, yet, but we own a newspaper. That’s a slight investment in Jackson—to put every dime we have in a locally owned newspaper, don’t you think? Also, if you purchase anything in Jackson, you pay a sales tax, so that counts for something.
#128770 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: May 19 2007
Back on topic, I did like that the C-L edit-boyz said Melton is trying to set up a “shadow government” by appointing Melvin, et al., to all these high-paying assistant jobs. The reporting this week lacked, certainly, but that was a good point to make, and a good way to put it. I have the feeling that Melton is going to lose many more supporters now that his administration’s mismanagement of the budget is becoming so clear.
#128771 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 19 2007
(Oh, and a funny aside: The guy who posted that on the CL FableChat has nipped at our heels since we started the JFP. He used to say, though—on a different site—that we were “trust fund” babies, meaning that as an insult. I guess he’s trying a different tactic, being that all his other ones have worked so well so far. ;-D )
#128772 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: May 19 2007
