|
News
We Rank Councilmembers' Budgeted Office Spending In Now Ending FY 02-03 Before & After Mayoral Requested Reductions
(August 24, 2003, updated Aug. 28) -- Below are data released to us on request in April, 2003 by the Office of Mayor Beverly O'Neill showing budgeted spending by each LB City Councilmember on their offices...before and after a spending reduction requested by the Mayor. (The list also includes line items for the Mayor's office spending plus general legislative dept. administration.)
We have ranked the data in order of Council office spending after their budgeted reduction. Some budgeted office expenses have subsequently been redirected, indicated below.
| District | FY 03 Budget Before Reduction | Total Reduction | % Reduction | Adjusted FY 03 Budget |
|---|
| Mayor | 872,988 | 29,613 | 3.4% | 843,375 |
| Gen'l Admin | 275,332 | 0 | 0% | 275,332 |
| 6 | 397,890 | 25,447 | 6.4% | 372,413 |
| 3 | 416,441 | 45,010 | 10.8% | 371,431 |
| 4 | 388,015 | 17,165 | 4.4% | 370,850 * |
| 7 | 357,073 | 0 | 0% | 357,074 |
| 2 | 354,555 | 3,702 | 1.0% | 350,853 |
| 8 | 346,512 | 0 | 0% | 346,512
329,185
(adj. after 4/03) |
| 5 | 328,440 | 0 | 0% | 328,440 |
| 9 | 344,760 | 22,136 | 6.4% | 322,614 * |
| 1 | 328,320 | 8,864 | 2.7% | 319,456 |
| TOTALS | 4,410,316 | 151,967 | 3.5% | 4,258,349 |
* At least two Councilmembers of whom we're aware have declined to take their City Charter mandated Council raises: Councilmembers Val Lerch and Dennis Carroll. Lerch transferred his raise to the Public Corporation for the Arts; Carroll transferred his to the graffiti abatement program.
In April 2003, Councilman Carroll indicated in another publication that he was redirecting sums previously budgeted for his Council office printing expenses: $10,000 returned to the City General Fund and $10,000 redirected for printing by the Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Marine.
Councilman Webb reduced his budget by roughly $17,000 after April '03, which we've updated the chart to reflect.
Related coverage:
Aug. 2003: Councilwoman Richardson Says To Deal With Deficit She's Cut Her Office Budget For Past Two Yrs. Beyond Mayor's Request & Switched City Cars To Reduce Costs (we post her statement)
Challenger Chaney Says Richardson's Votes Helped Fuel Deficit...And Chaney Won't Take City Car
April 2003: Vice Mayor Colonna Withdraws Council Item On Possibly Assigning More City Staff To Councilmembers Rep'ing City On Boards Or Committees Beyond Council Office Duties
April 2003: Vice Mayor Colonna Says Council Should Consider Possibly Assigning More City Staff To Councilmembers Rep'ing City On Boards Or Committees Beyond Council Office Duties
Mar. 2003: Follow-Up To Jan. '03 LBReport.com Report On Council Office Spending:
Councilwoman Richardson Says Her Office's #2 Expense Ranking (Colonna Is Costliest) Results From Communicating To America's Most Diverse District In Most Diverse City, And More;
Receives Form From City & Keeps Track Of Mileage When City Vehicle Not Used On City Business And Believes Same Form Is Used By Other Councilmembers When Applicable
Jan. 2003: Despite Mounting Deficit & Post-Sept 11/01 Slump, Council Boosts Spending On Itself Oct 01-Sept 02
Frank Colonna, Laura Richardson, Costliest Council Offices, Consumed Roughly $370,000 Each in City Resources, More Than 45% Higher Than Most Frugal Council Office (9th dist.); See Rankings Of Council Office Spending
Most Council Offices Increased Spending Far Outpacing Inflation...But Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal Decreases Spending
4 Councilmembers & Mayor Drive City Fleet Cars, 4 Take Monthly Allowance, Carroll Takes Neither (staffer gets mileage reimbursement)
|
