Mayor Bennett to council: The budget is a 2-way street

Mayor Duke Bennett/ Lucy Perry photo

Mayor Duke Bennett was quick to respond to Terre Haute City Council member demands for additional cuts in the proposed budget today, which is on the table for action during tomorrow night's meeting.

Just after noon, Council President Todd Nation, Vice President Karrum Nasser, Earl Elliot and Martha Crossen held a press conference to discuss concerns with the overall financial picture going into 2017. Nation asks that the mayor specifically figure out a way to cut at least $2 million in the current proposal. The members noted a $1.1 million shortfall oveall in the nearly $60 million 

Bennett, during his own press conference at City Hall around 3 p.m., said those members of the council jumped the gun in saying the budget doesn't add up. He claims they didn't have the most the most recent figures , which were updated on Gateway in last two days.

In response to the four council members demands placing it "squarely on the mayor's shoulders to find $2 million more to cut before tomorrow night's meeting, Bennett says the burden is not his alone.

"So, it's a two- way street. They have every responsibility to bring those cuts or whatever they want to change in the budget to me. I got nothing this year," he said.

​Regardless, discussion about cuts have been ongoing, he explaiind. In fact, he said  the members were sent an updated version of the proposed budget just before their press conference earlier, which reflects additional  reductions in line items.

"There's no surprises in what's in the budget at all. And, we're offering to make reductions that are over $2.8 million," Bennett said, adding that last year on the final night of budget talks, $3.5 million in cuts were made at the last minute.

In his nine years as mayor, Bennett said the council has not pulled it's weight on budget negotiations. He alleges many council members have not outlined cuts they want to make or made any  recommendations at budget time.

"It's pretty much they listen, they ask a few questions, we answer it -- and then now there seems to be their approach is, "Let's just vote against it," he said, adding, "That's just the wrong answer."

Responding to hints at cuts in public safety, Bennett said "it's not going to happen."
--
SEE related story