News-Record.com

After Monday night's budget work session with the Greensboro city council, several city staffers were feeding their stress with handfuls of Oreo cookies.

I can't say I blame them. There are less than 20 days left before a balanced budget must be approved. The intended budget approval date -- June 17 -- is just days away. And yet, the budget is still kind of squishy.

The hanging issues:

-- A half million dollar deficit. The city needs to come up with $400,000 for the library system (money they thought was coming from the county) and $100,000 for unanticipated cost increases for the Guilford County Animal Shelter.
Council members are lobbying their county counterparts to hand over the $400,000 promised to Greensboro's libraries. But the county commissioners have budget problems of their own.
There was some discussion at one point about using a housing and community development fund to cover the deficit. But that raises another issue...

-- A new day center for homeless residents. Councilwoman T. Dianne Bellamy-Small has been working with city staff on a plan for a place that can provide services for local homeless people, a place for them to get their mail delivered, showers, etc.
She has support from other council members, who would like to see the center started next year. But if the excess housing and community development money is tapped to pay other needs, there won't be money for the day center.

-- Comprehensive police department review. In two weeks, a city-hired consultant will complete a review of the police department structure and services.
Council would like to see the report soon, so they can make possible changes to the department's budget. They hope to get the consultant in before they end of the month, but they might have to pass some version of the budget before they see his report.

-- The capital improvements program. The council has run out of time at several meetings to go over this issue. They will try to get to it at their briefing Tuesday night.

-- Using city reserves. Although council is within its right to use the city's savings account to fund various projects (in this case, Monday night they decided to use it to pave roads and plant flowers), it's contrary to the city's plan to build the reserves.
City Manager Mitchell Johnson has warned council against relying on this as a funding method.