Comments about ‘Provo Council draws fire over cuts’

This is election year and TWO council votes (for the budget) and ONE council vote's spouse (Steve Clark's wife voted for the budget) are running for election. By voting against ALL of them, there will be the votes in January to FIX the BUDGET! The 2 voting against the budget are NOT up for re-election-consequently 2 + 3 = 5 -Find candidates NOW

The Mayor, as usual, threw up plenty of smoke and mirrors during the budget discussion. The Administrative branch of Provo has notoriously been a cash hog and they need to learn restraint. The Council's budget is, by far, the best budget EVER drafted in Provo's history. Present your argument why they should be voted out; even the Mayor recognizes that the budget is the BEST YET, despite cuts and the economic crunch.

The City should consider promoting the current Asst. Economic Development Director and doing away with that position. In these "slow" economic times, not a whole lot for that guy/gal to do. Besides, Leeland is a nice guy and all, but he really didn't do a whole lot, and I'm not saying he's lazy by any means, but compared to other managers at Provo, he probably had the lightest work load.

Just remember, Provo would not be in such serious financial straits if it were not for Billings wasting millions on iProvo on dozens of pet projects over the past dozen years. Remember iProvo (60 million). Remember the airport upgrades for the few (hundreds of thousands). Remember millions on moving a golf course for a development that isn't coming. Remember hundreds of thousands on downtown with little benefit. Remember a hundred thousand on a horse trail head only a few (he and his wife) use. This list goes on and on. Just remember, when he complains about any budget concerns, he and he alone, is to blame!

This Provo City Council cut two department heads from the city while increasing the Council Budget by over $100,000 for a budget director.

It is astounding how many people care less about this Mayor wasting over 70 million dollars, or more, in 12 years but they are really concerned about 100,000 for a position that is much needed. I for one am finally glad to see the Council do their job, hire the budget director for oversight, to ensure that a mayor cannot pillage his citizens again in the future.

This community is full of apathetic whiners that don't follow what is going on and then when they finally realize they have been pillaged financially by the mayor, they blame someone else. Go figure!

I think the Council should have worked directly with the existing city resources (John & Bruce) in finance and the Dept. Directors to dig down into the budget process more and not hired a full time person of their own.

They should have demanded more support and info from the existing City employees and not created a new position.

The Council having a budget guy got the Council better information than they have ever had from the Administration. Since when can you replace 10 police cars, a community development vehicle and 6 others for $175,000 dollars? The Administration NEVER shared what was in the equipment replacement and now they are blasting the Council for "forcing" them to justify their budget line item. This Council is the best friend the Provo Taxpayer has ever had. If the public ever thought to scrutinize the $139 Million of the Administration's budget, they would stand up and cheer the Council's increased scrutiny. This Mayor has done very little to increase revenue and as a result the city already runs so lean that we're in trouble. Thank goodness the reign of terror is over.

Did you ever think who the existing city resources work for? The Mayor. The Budget Guy was the ONLY option this Council had to get information. You are completely NAIVE thinking a Mayor who has no interest in sharing information would allow his guys any ability do what you are asking. The Council tried for 11 years. It was time for a change.

Sounds like Provo's Green Jello investigatory squad will suffer deep cuts this next decade.

Seems like there's a huge power play on both sides of our city government. It would be nice if we got some "down to earth" representatives who use their brains instead of their egos!!I say vote the mayor and the three council members off this year. We need new blood and new thinking.

Sounds like a few council members are here making comments to "justify" their actions and kingdom building. These council members and the Mayor, who can't play well with others, ought to pack it up and go home. Time for wholesale change in Provo. Rep. Clark isn't that change. I am really rooting for John Curtis to be the next Mayor.