OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
12/11/2009 |
Contact: (907) 343-7103
Mayor's Office
DATE: December 11, 2009
TO: Anchorage Assembly
Debbie Ossiander, Chair Assembly
FROM: Mayor Daniel A. Sullivan
SUBJECT: LINE ITEM Vetoes of AO 2009-116 (S-1) as Amended
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Charter section 5.02(c), I hereby line item veto the following amendments to AO 2009-116(S) as amended, an ordinance of the Municipal Assembly adopting and appropriating funds for the 2010 General Government Operating budget for the Municipality of Anchorage:
Municipal Manager Department – Arts and Cultural Grants
Reduction of $124,330, which lets stand a $150,000 increase over the level of funding included in my proposed budget.
Library Department – Materials and Services
Reduction of $50,000; which lets stand a $75,000 increase for materials over the level of funding included in my proposed budget.
I recognize the community support that these two programs enjoy, which is why I am accepting increases in both categories that are over my original budget proposal. But, the challenge in approving the final Fiscal Year 2010 budget was to balance many competing needs and wants. Difficult choices were required and I appreciate the Assembly’s willingness to work together to make thoughtful changes to my proposal. The magnitude of the fiscal challenges that lie ahead to fund the ever increasing costs of the labor contracts approved in 2008 requires that we cautiously proceed in making each and every spending decision. For this reason, I have made these reductions.