Crier - New city budget tight, contractor talks ongoing

I missed this meeting due to a business trip but was informed that the financial report was not completed therefore there is nothing to post to the internet. When I finally get to review the paper documents provided during the meeting, I will post what I can. John

By Dick Williams for The Crier
Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The candidates for Dunwoody City Council heard Monday night that no big spenders need apply. The final report of the finance task force shows a city budget in delicate balance for 2009 with only a little more flesh on the bone for the years after that. Some candidates who have reported spending thousands of dollars on their campaigns may have second thoughts.

Vickie Patton reported on the work of the task force, showing a budget with some $17 million in revenue, challenged by about $2.35 million in startup costs after the city begins operations December 1.

The uncertainty over the first-year budget is largely a matter of timing, said Oliver Porter, a consultant to the Citizens for Dunwoody. While new cities in Fulton County had proceeds from that county’s local option sales tax, Dunwoody does not.

Porter pointed to issues such as franchise fees for 2009 that aren’t scheduled to be paid until 2010.

The candidates also heard from Brian Anderson about the negotiations with CH2M Hill, the private contractor that operates four new cities in Fulton County.

Anderson said the negotiations were continuing and progress was being made. He said the budget could be balanced using the private contractor.

Candidates also heard from Porter on franchise fees available to cities and how other services could be franchised.

On the campaign trail, several candidates have expressed misgivings about having only one private contractor at the negotiating table. They have asked for other options to consider.

State Sen. Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody) told the candidates of research he has been leading about whether Dunwoody could be started from the ground up, hiring department heads to seek bids on specific services, rather than having one master contract.

“In any event,” said Porter, “we believe we’re going to be providing better services than DeKalb County now provides.

While city finances might be tight, several candidates are spending substantial amounts to win the votes of Dunwoody’s 40,000 residents.

Most of the candidates are paying for their campaigns from their own pockets and a perusal of the reports filed last week with the state Ethics Commission showed almost no contributions from lobbyists.

The campaign expenditures follow a familiar pattern: yard signs, mailers, consultants and robocalls.

The most expensive seat so far is the district post in the central district, where Dr. Adrian Bonser has reported spending $14,865.82 and attorney Larry Pankey $12,078. Bob Fiscella has spent $746.01.

The second most expensive race so far is the western district at-large post, requiring a citywide campaign. Robert Wittenstein reported raising $6700 and spending $12,082. Mallard Holliday reported spending $2735.

In the central district citywide election, Danny Ross reported spending $3227.93 of his own funds while Janet Webb reported raising $660 and spending $5335.35.

In the third citywide race, based in the eastern district, John Heneghan reported spending $1233.34 of his own funds while Mary Jo Chambless spent $3994.32 as of the reporting deadline.

For the western district post, the campaign is a financial mismatch. Al Alberghini loaned his campaign $15,360 and reported spending $10,596.71. Denis Shortal listed expenditures of $2871.59.

In the district race for the eastern district, Tom Taylor reported spending $2047, Doug Thompson $2061.35 and Ellen Fix reported no contributions. Her qualifying fee was her sole expense.