Extra Council Meeting This Week to Adopt Capital Budget

It is rare that Metro Council has back-to-back-week meetings, but on Tuesday they will meet on the heels of approving the Mayor's Budget on second reading to consider the Capital Budget. According to the Council Analysis:

ORDINANCE NO. BL2008-229 ... adopts the capital improvements budget for 2008-2009 through 2013-2014. The capital improvements budget is a planning document and does not in itself appropriate any money. All capital projects must be provided for in this document before a capital improvement can be approved by the council, except in the case of a public emergency.

In the past, the Capital Budget has been a great source of friction between members and the Mayor's Office that gave me a lot to write about. This year, with the exception of Mike Jameson, the Metro Council seems in submission to Mayor Karl Dean like pack dogs who bend to the alpha male. So, I'm not expecting too much nipping and barking on Tuesday.

We've seen little debate or dissent from Mayor Dean's agenda. That cannot be good for democracy. Even the council conservatives are hushed and lying low.