Covington Mayor Candace Watkins’ recent veto of the budget ordinance that would require notification or approval of the city council before redistributing money in the budget even within a department has met with opposition from some city councilmen and will be considered at the council meeting Tuesday.

The ordinance in question would require the mayor to notify the council of budget modifications within a department of between $5,000-$15,000. Any modifications, even within the same department, of over $15,000 would need approval from the council.

Council vice president and member at large Matt Faust responded to the mayor’s veto by saying, “We spend a great deal of time on our budget process, particularly Lee Alexius. When large sums of money are reallocated without our knowledge, the entire scope/intent of what we passed in the budget can change. It can also affect our thought process in what we budget the following year.” He said, “Given our current economic state, the more we know the better we can spend our citizen’s tax dollars. That should be our overriding goal.”

Councilman Marty Benoit replied to the veto by stating, “The council is charged with approving the budget and monitoring revenues and expenditures throughout the budget year. In my mind, this (the ordinance amendment) is merely a tool for the council to do that.”

He added, “The amendment gives the mayor much latitude in transferring monies within a department. Amounts below $5,000 require o notification and are necessary to the day-to-day operations of the city. Amounts between $5,000 and $15,000 only require written notification to the council after the fact. Amounts above $15,000 do require a resolution passed by the council, but this is useful as significant money changes can alter the intent and dynamics of the original budget.”

Benoit also said the council gains more information when considering adjusting the budget during the budget year. He said, “I welcome comments on this issue, whether pro or con, from my constituents, We’ll discuss this as a council at the meeting when it comes around to vote on overriding the veto.”

Councilman Lee Alexius had said at the time that the budget process looks at what is needed and if something changes, the council should be notified.

“We (the council) are the budget process,” he said, “And if something does not agree with what was budgeted, we should be told.”

When excess in one area occurs involving a great deal of money ($15,000 or more), the budgetary process should decide how best that excess money should be spent. Alexius said in most cases, it’s a small amount of money and will not be affected by the change, but if a larger amount is involved, the council should be able to look at the city’s priorities and decide where excess money can be utilized best.

Watkins said in her veto that this ordinance mirrors an amendment to the city charter that was defeated by voters in November 2008 by a vote of 2,045 to 1,817, putting the ordinance in conflict with the charter.

The charter allows the mayor to approve transfers of budgeted funds within a department without notification or approval of the council.

“We need permission to move money from one department to another,” stated Watkins in her veto. “However moving money within a department is the authority of the mayor.”

Dee Dee McKinnon, Covington council clerk, said yesterday that the matter was immediately put on next Tuesday’s council meeting agenda, as required by law. The consideration of overriding the veto will take place at that meeting. In order to override the veto, a vote of 5-2, or two-thirds of the council, is needed.