Dothan commissioner wants justification for fundings

With few exceptions, across-the-board fiscal years 2010-11 appropriations to various agencies and entities were cut 3 percent Tuesday by Dothan City Commissioners.

And across the board, some commissioners wanted to table some 31 appropriations, contracts for services, and other requests for monies.

In the end, every appropriation and contract, as prepared by the city manager for the biennial operating budget, was approved as recommended. Some votes were unanimous; many were not.

The appropriations included 2 percent cuts to the Dothan City Schools and no cuts in the contract for services with the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wiregrass Rehab Center for cleanup at Rip Hewes Stadium.

Early into a lengthy budget agenda, Commissioner John Craig asked that items 15 through 44 be tabled. Each would have to have a separate vote, however, and after the first attempt, which split the commission 4-3 against tabling the items, Craig said it was better just to move forward.

“We already had a lengthy meeting,” he said after the three hour and 17 minute meeting, which went through the lunch hour with one five-minute break.

“It would have served no purpose. I thought the items needed further review and justification by the recipients and I saw that wasn’t going to happen.”

Among the “no” votes:

n     Craig voted against giving $142,396 to the Houston County Health Department to help fund a health inspector, saying the city should not be funding that.

n     Commissioner Keith Seagle voted against $19,400 funding for the Downtown Group, saying they should be self-sustaining.

n     Commissioner Taylor Barbaree voted against $108,640 to Wiregrass Transit Authority because of numerous complaints on the way the system operates.

n     Craig and Seagle voted against $4,850 for the South Alabama Symphony Association for operating expenses, saying it was not a justifiable expenditure.

n     Craig voted against $17,460 for the Retired Senior Citizen Program for operating expenses.

n     Craig and Seagle voted against $19,400 for the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens to help maintain gardens in part because it is not in the city limits.

n     Craig and Seagle voted against $38,800 for the George Washington Carver Museum for operating expenses.

n     Craig voted against providing water and electric services to the Dothan Regional Airport because he said when he has made inquiries of airport staff, he was told he has no business asking any questions about the airport.

n     Craig voted against providing water and electric services to the Wiregrass Humane Society.

n     Craig voted against an agreement with the Dorothy Quick Senior Center for nutrition and transportation services, saying it should be placed under Leisure Services for funding.