Monday, February 6, 2012

City Council Meeting

The City Council meets tomorrow night at 7 p.m.  Not a lot on the agenda, but I expect quite a few community organizations to show up to defend their various requests for funding.  The Convention and Tourism Bureau, which is funded by a hotel tax, some of which Mayor Fritzler has proposed directing into the city's general fund, has requested $317,500, more than all the other organizations combined

The other organizations requesting funding, including unsolicited requests of $40,000 from the Varsity Center for the Arts and $35,680 for Attucks Community Services, totaling, by my count, a bit less than $290,000.  I see a couple of interesting requests:  $9,900 for the I Can Read program, funding for which was removed then reinstated when former Mayor Brad Cole funded a summer reading program in conjunction with the Carbondale Elementary School, $1000 for the Spirit of Attucks annual school reunion, and $14,045 for Saluki Express, which was launched and is primarily funded by student fees but does provide transport throughout Carbondale.

I expect to hear the most discussion over the unsolicited requests from Varsity Center for the Arts and Attucks Community Services, as they account for roughly 25% of the requested non-Convention and Tourism Bureau funding.  I would expect Councilwoman McDaniels to argue strongly for restoring funding for Attucks Community Services as she has typically supported funding services the organization provides.

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