Mayor asks for more time on city budget

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones wants more time to submit his first budget to the City Council.

Citing uncertainties about state funding and the federal stimulus package, Jones is asking to deliver his first biennial plan on March 27 -- three weeks after the March 6 deadline.

An ordinance to move the deadline was introduced Monday and is scheduled for a hearing and vote Feb. 23. The request is designed to give Jones, who took office Jan. 1, enough time to review revenue projections that are still in flux as well as departmental spending requests, Press Secretary Tammy D. Hawley said.

If it grants the extension, the council will cut the time it has for review before its own May 31 deadline for adoption under the city charter.

City Council President Kathy C. Graziano said the council may be willing to accommodate the mayor's request for this year but not permanently.

"I would think for this first year, we would be willing to tighten up our schedule to help their schedule," she said.

The council's timing for adoption became a problem last year when then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder said the council acted too late on budget-related ordinances. As a result, Wilder installed his budget over the council's objections.

With 4½ months left in fiscal 2008-09, Jones and the council still haven't reconciled the budget with the loss of $6 million in revenue that resulted from the pairing of Wilder's budget, which assumed a real-estate tax rate of $1.23, with the $1.20 rate that was ultimately approved by the council.

Graziano said she's not concerned about a similar run-in with Jones, who has emphasized his willingness to cooperate with the council. "I think we would look at this as a whole new working environment," she said.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .