MONROE - Mayor Louis Armstrong was met halfway during the Monroe Common Council meeting Tuesday when members agreed to schedule mid-quarter updates on specific budget items instead of establishing a Budget Oversight Committee.
Alderman Reid Stangel questioned the need for a new committee.
"What would be different than the department heads job to evaluate their budget?" Stangel said. "I don't want us to become micro-managers."
Armstrong had requested the possibility of such a committee in order to address issues he found troubling. The $50,000 budgeted for work on the downtown parking ramp was one example, he said. While he was unsure where the allotment was actually spent, Armstrong hoped the money "was spent prudently."
Another issue was Greenwood Cemetery's money concerns, which were covered by a personal loan paid back through the city, during the outline of the budget last year that could have been dealt with earlier, he added. Armstrong said the council never sees "things like capital funding" and that if more monitoring were done, fiscal problems would not be a surprise to the city.
Alderman Michael Boyce said the task of overseeing budget items could create more certainty, and money could be allocated more accurately.
"Maybe some sort of overview ... some sort of snapshot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world," Boyce said. "It would be great to get feedback. Especially at this point in time, going into the budget season."
Instead of a committee, City Clerk Carol Stamm said reminders could be made and brought to full council. Armstrong said the council as a whole would be the best option, with a chance for members to request specific items be brought forward by each department manager.
Beginning in 2017, budgetary items of interest to council members will be brought to the group by people like Board of Public Works Director Al Gerber or Parks Department Director Paul Klinzing and evaluated at the mid-point of each fiscal quarter. The council will decide on the first set of talking points "at some point in November," Armstrong said.
Alderman Reid Stangel questioned the need for a new committee.
"What would be different than the department heads job to evaluate their budget?" Stangel said. "I don't want us to become micro-managers."
Armstrong had requested the possibility of such a committee in order to address issues he found troubling. The $50,000 budgeted for work on the downtown parking ramp was one example, he said. While he was unsure where the allotment was actually spent, Armstrong hoped the money "was spent prudently."
Another issue was Greenwood Cemetery's money concerns, which were covered by a personal loan paid back through the city, during the outline of the budget last year that could have been dealt with earlier, he added. Armstrong said the council never sees "things like capital funding" and that if more monitoring were done, fiscal problems would not be a surprise to the city.
Alderman Michael Boyce said the task of overseeing budget items could create more certainty, and money could be allocated more accurately.
"Maybe some sort of overview ... some sort of snapshot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world," Boyce said. "It would be great to get feedback. Especially at this point in time, going into the budget season."
Instead of a committee, City Clerk Carol Stamm said reminders could be made and brought to full council. Armstrong said the council as a whole would be the best option, with a chance for members to request specific items be brought forward by each department manager.
Beginning in 2017, budgetary items of interest to council members will be brought to the group by people like Board of Public Works Director Al Gerber or Parks Department Director Paul Klinzing and evaluated at the mid-point of each fiscal quarter. The council will decide on the first set of talking points "at some point in November," Armstrong said.