Duluth Mayor to Present Street Improvement Strategy and Revised Budget at City Council Meeting

Strategic Insights -

Duluth Mayor Don Ness is set to present a major new street improvement strategy that will fundamentally change how street repairs are financed and increase the number of miles of road improved each year. However, the good news will be tempered by the announcement that the 2009 budget deficit has grown from $5 million to $6.5 million. Ness plans to release strategies to reduce the deficit during a committee meeting, while the city council will focus on a proposal to cut their own pay by 5% and eliminate interns from their budget, citing potential savings of $20,000 per year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The city of Duluth will implement a new street improvement strategy that will change how street repairs are financed, leading to an increase in the number of miles of road improved each year.
  • The 2009 budget deficit has grown from $5 million to $6.5 million, with Mayor Ness planning to release strategies to reduce the deficit during a committee meeting.
  • The city council will consider a proposal to cut their own pay by 5%, with Councilor Jay Fosle stating that eliminating interns from their budget could save the city $20,000 per year.
  • The elimination of council interns would remove 2.5 full-time equivalent positions from the city's payroll, reducing labor costs.
  • The city council will focus on the proposal to cut their own pay and eliminate interns from the budget, with no action taken on the street improvement strategy or budget at this meeting.
  • Mayor Ness' new street improvement strategy will be made public at the city council meeting, with details to be released later tonight.

Statistics:

  • The 2009 budget deficit has grown from $5 million to $6.5 million.
  • The proposed 5% cut in pay for city council members would be a $6,250 annual reduction if the average council member earns $125,000.
  • Eliminating intern positions from the city council budget could save the city $20,000 per year.
  • 2.5 full-time equivalent positions would be removed from the city's payroll by eliminating intern positions.
  • The new street improvement strategy will increase the number of miles of road improved each year.

Sources:

  • Duluth News Tribune, Minn. (Copyright 2009)
  • McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
  • The Permissions Group Inc.