Mayor ‘Imagines’ a Different Approach to Master Planning
No fiscal earmark made for ‘Imagine Brownsville!’ in present budget
BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO — The Brownsville Herald, August 30, 2007 - 12:04AM
A $870,000 contract to develop a “comprehensive master plan” is a luxury our city can’t afford, the mayor said this week while still recognizing the need for planning at a more reasonable cost. Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. said that he supports the plan’s concept, but, “right now, as we speak, we have a (projected) budget deficit.” About 60 percent of the city’s roughly $113 million budget goes to public safety, 13 percent to pay debts, leaving 27 percent for operations and to meet “quality of life” issues, such as new recreation venues. Click Here for the Rest of the Story.
2 comments:
I would think that I have a pretty good handle on how numbers work, and if the city is using 13% of its revenue to service debt, it would seem that we are paying too much interest on the debt. Bold action in this area could turn the 1.3 million budget deficit into a surplus. Just a thought, and no outside consultants or costly studies needed.
You're welcome.
"Of course I know. It is my business to know." -The Merovingian
The idea of having UTB help develop Brownsville's master plan is a waste. Nothing against UTB, but the school simply does not have the expertise to develop any sort of comprehensive master plan. The city needs to think outside the box here. As we can see, the city has a long legacy of failure from an urban planning perspective. We need to avoid doing more of the same, as this strategy has clearly not lead to significant change in the city. If the mayor intends to do this on the cheap, he should at least attempt to get a decent outside opinion on this. Why go to UTB when professional schools like MIT have whole departments designated for urban and city planning? Why not ask them or another school like that?
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