Huntsville City Budget & City paid Mayor driver (Birmingham, Montgomery: sales, 2010)

[macwell]

As I read the articles this week about the City of Huntsville Budget concerns and school system cuts, I can only reflect on the $54,412 a year salary paid to the mayors driver and how this could pay for one or two teachers salary, a city job, or many other needs.

I think this is alarming. Somehow the mayors from past decades were able to drive themselves around in the best of times, but now in todays economy we tax payers are paying for the mayors driver rather than a teachers salary. As more articles come out about the city economy stress, I will feel so proud that the Huntsville mayor has his own driver.



Battle: Budget to 'hold the line'
Thursday, July 23, 2009 By Steve Doyle
Battle: Budget to 'hold the line' - al.com
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Wednesday he plans to recommend a "hold the line" city budget for what's likely to be a lean fiscal 2010. Vacant jobs will go unfilled. New vehicle purchases will be delayed. Employee cost-of-living raises - a given most years - seem doubtful. The city faces a potential deficit of $5 million to $8 million this year, Battle said, and may have to dip into its cash reserves again next year to balance the budget. The new fiscal year will start Oct. 1.


More cuts for schools
Another 2% gone; next year likely to see reductions, too
More cuts for schools - al.com
Another 2% gone; next year likely to see reductions, too
Already facing steep cuts in support from Montgomery, local school boards across Alabama learned Friday that things are about to get worse. Budget cuts for this fiscal year have hit double digits. The state had already reduced its support of local schools by 9 percent for this fiscal year, which will end Sept. 30. But it wasn't enough.


Mayor driver a needed service
Monday, July 06, 2009
Mayor driver a needed service - al.com
Battle's helper is a special detail officer from the police department who doubles as the mayor's bodyguard. Donnie Daly, a former SWAT team member paid $54,412 a year, drives the mayor to most events in and around the city. Security is certainly an important service to provide the mayor of a city the size of Huntsville.

[zenjenn]

I think this is alarming. Somehow the mayors from past decades were able to drive themselves around in the best of times[

I'm not sure "alarming" is the right word? Suggesting that he has a driver with a $54k salary is misleading. There is a police officer already on payroll who the mayor uses for transportation and security (and driving the mayor around is not this officer's sole job.) That does not seem unreasonable to me. The question would be whether the services the officer provides enables the mayor to do his own job more efficiently or not.

Budget freeze seems wise given the current financial situation. Additional school cuts, not so keen on. Alabama already has a low education budget, and has already made its cuts. I'd have to see some good reasons laid out for me to agree its justified.

[Guntersville Boomer]

Wow, I had no idea the mayor of Huntsville has a body guard. I worked for the Governor of the State of Florida who had one but have worked with many local governments including the Cities of Tampa, Miami and Orlando and have never seen the mayor requiring a full time body guard. If they are going to an event and are concerned about safety a police officer would be assigned for the event but no full time body guards. In the large cities, the mayor is usually driven by one of their aides or scheduling people, not a law enforcement officer. This is really unprecedented especially in a city the size of Huntsville, the press should call around to other local governments and do a comparison.

[zenjenn]

That was my point. This guy is NOT a full time bodyguard according to the article. He's a special detail officer for the police department, that performs other duties besides whatever he does for the mayor. The article further mentions that the mayor drives himself between home and work, and drives himself when he is out of town. He only has this guy help him when he is working in Huntsville on city business. It also mentions that mayors in other cities (Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile are mentioned) have used security escorts for years.

It is certainly possible that his use of this officer is unnecessary indulgence, but I also wouldn't jump to that conclusion based on the known information.

Also remember that if a mayor is attending events with lots of people, since the officer that he brings with him is a police officer that works for the city and not a private body guard, that officer serves as a security presence for everyone at that event, not just personal protection for the mayor.

[DvlsAdvc8]

I don't see it as unreasonable... if this guy was nothing other than a driver, sure, but he's basically a cop assigned to the mayor.

[macwell]

I respectfully disagree, for a major in the size of Huntsville to have a driver/bodyguard at any cost seems elitist with the tight economy and budget cuts the city is experiencing. I believe the article said only one former mayor in Huntsville history had a bodyguard/driver. Even former mayor Spencer at age 70 drove herself around and that was in the best of economic times.

As for the pay, the article does state a officer from the police department doubles as the mayors bodyguard/driver. However, I could not find where it states what percentage of the pay and time is used as the bodyguard/driver and how much time is used actually protecting the citizens of Huntsville from crime.

[macwell]

Trim 5% of budget, Battle says - al.com


Schools expect more cuts - al.com



Madison schools face $4M cut after scaled-back state revenue - al.com

[macwell]

Budget would slash spending, delay plans - al.com



(complete article not listed below only, see link for entire article)

Battle's plan tightens belts but also uses $14M from city's cash reserves

Battle's proposed 2009-10 budget, unveiled Tuesday, slashes spending on the library, art museum and many other agencies, postpones merit raises for city workers, delays some capital projects and keeps nonessential vehicles parked to save gas.




How did Huntsville get in such a bind?
Battle said the city is facing an "unparalleled" decline in sales tax income. Officials had projected sales tax collections would rise in 1 percent this fiscal year; instead, they dropped 4 percent, or about $6.5 million.

Moderator cut: copyright

[macwell]

Letters to the editor: Thursday, September 10 - Times Views on the News - al.com


Cut bodyguard, driver

[macwell]

Friday, September 25, 2009 By Steve Doyle
Council adopts changed budget - al.com



Local art institutions feel crunch as City of Huntsville cuts budget | Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com
By Jon Busdeker -October 03, 2009,