Folks who live in Little Rock get one more chance to sound off about proposed budget cuts before the city council meets Tuesday night. The council could vote then. But city leaders will have a budget hearing Monday to let people know what to expect and hear what they have to say.
As someone who's lived in the Arch Street neighborhood for 30 years, Phillip Newsome doesn't want to see the neighborhood alert center closed. But under the 2010 budget it would, along with one on Wright Avenue and East 6th Street. The centers serve as mini city halls, a base for police and code enforcement officers and a place to take your concerns.
"It gives you a place within your own community to go to for answers that you need," Newsome said. Those with the city council say the services would remain despite the closures. Ward 2 City Director Ken Richardson says the next nearest center will still provide the services.
Richardson says that's just one of the tough decisions the city council must make because of reduced income from sales tax and franchise fees. The 2010 budget of $131 million down from the original $137 million in 2009, would also cut 44 jobs, reduce funding to prevention programs like the West Central Sports Complex aimed at keeping youth on the right path, and cut down financial support to Central Arkansas Transit.
"Until we get some new revenue streams or an increase in revenue we're going to have to be faced with these tough choices," Richardson said.
The next public budget hearing happens Monday at the Southwest Community Center on Baseline at 6 p.m.
