Council Approves Allen Budget, but Fully Funds Arts

In the Name of Art

No budget cut can be painless, but Russell Allen has done a good job of making this one as fair and balanced as possible.  As our city’s Chief Executive, Mr. Allen is charged to deliver a balanced budget to the council every year regardless of funds available. This year Allen had to design Raleigh’s budget around huge losses in revenue as Raleigh’s real-estate market slumped with the rest of the nation’s.  On May 19th Allen delivered a balanced budget as promised. 

A budget sensitive to the city’s existing employees, the proposed budget slashed Arts funding by almost $200,000, 85 vacant positions coming from Parks and Recreation, Inspections and Public Works primarily, reduction in service hours for parks and services, and the end of the cost-of-living adjusts for Firefighters and Police. The News and Observer quoted Allen after his initial proposal: “When you reduce the by 95 positions there can’t help but be service impacts.”  And while the cuts will be visible, city employees wont be asked to furlough or laid off. The council is pulling $1.85 million from reserves to restore Arts funding and other services.  Allen’s budget proposed a $.50 cut per citizen to the Arts and the adopted budget funds Arts at $4.50 a person maintaining existing funding. 

Two weeks ago Allen’s $10,000 raise was approved.  It’s a merit based raise written right into his contract, the same type of raise he preserved for the other city employees.  “The council feels that it should honor the contract that has been signed,” said Mayor Meeker.    Allen is the city’s head employee and has worked hard to balance the complexities of running Raleigh.  While news outlets have worked to fabricate outrage at Allen’s compensation and contractual raise,  it is my position that he deserves the compensation he receives. Allen has been partially responsible for the city’s continued success and the downtown revitalization over the past 8 years that he has worked for the city. During this time Allen has been cautious to not over extend the city or be overly aggressive in pursuing the city’s growth.  Allen has enabled the planning department to adopt a progressive agenda that looks forward while remaining fiscally responsible - so that as we entered this down market we remained stable.  As we dip into reserves he has assured the city that we will still be able to meet our economic needs should the recession continue. 

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City Manager Russell Allen Raleigh Budget Arts Funding