Council tackles budget

Fresh off a long holiday weekend, Metro Council's Budget and Finance Committee will dive into Mayor Bill Purcell's budget proposal today with three important meetings.

Purcell's fiscal year 2005 budget is roughly $1.350 billion, just under last year's $1.352 billion. He also submitted a $242 million capital spending plan for new schools, vehicles and other capital needs that could be deferred by council until the operating budget is approved. Council must adopt an operating budget, according to the Metro Charter, before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

"I hope that council members will be willing to be open about exactly how they would like to see this process progress," Budget and Finance Committee Chair Brenda Gilmore said. "I have heard from a number of them that they would like to delay the capital budget and just put all of their attention on the operating budget."

"Some have said they would like to see what we could do to find more money for the schools so they wouldn't have to use so much of their rainy day fund