At a time when city of Denver employees are taking unpaid furlough days and working under the strain of hiring freezes, it’s disappointing that some City Council members don’t think similar belt-tightening applies to them.
Mayor John Hickenlooper wants to reduce the recession-stricken 2010 budget by 7.2 percent, and he’s asked departments to cut by at least that much. His request is reasonable and necessary.
But the City Council has reduced its budget by only 4.09 percent, and some claim that’s all that can be cut.
Among them is Councilwoman Carol Boigon. She tells us she fears that any further cuts to the already trim City Council staff puts the city at a disadvantage, because it would weaken the checks and balances that the council provides and tilt more power to the mayor, who has a much deeper staff.
Council members Jeanne Faatz and Charlie Brown, however, warn that the council risks looking elitist if it avoids the difficult choices other departments face.
The council also risks complicating the budget process. As other department heads look to trim 7.2 percent, they now can argue that what’s good enough for the council is good enough for them.
We agree that Denver’s council operates on a pretty slim budget as it is. Compared to some other large cities, their spending record is fairly clean. A review of their expenses doesn’t uncover easy slush-fund targets to slash.
The 13-member council’s 2009 budget was just $4.5 million. Their individual budgets offer no pricey perks, such as a city vehicle to drive, and they’ve already agreed to cut the few niceties they do have, such as all travel expenses, and free pizza or Chinese food at their weekly meetings.
Each council member gets up to $247,000 a year to run an office,which includes their salary of $78,000 and that of two aides. A few members save money by having their offices downtown at the City and County Building.
Some suggest that all district offices be moved to the city-owned building to save money. But we don’t like that idea at all.
First, there isn’t room for all of the council members downtown. Plus, we think our representatives ought to work in the districts they represent. It allows them to see firsthand the day-to-day needs of constituents, and gives constituents easier access to their representatives.
Salaries make up the bulk of expenses. We suggest that unpaid furloughs fill the gap, or maybe reduced staff pay. (Brown took that further and cut his second aide in March.)
Council members also could refund some of their pay.
But make the cuts, City Council. If you don’t, you risk poisoning the budget process during the midst of a recession.
That’s no way to run a city.
