BIRMINGHAM - AL -
This vote follows three previous attempts that the council did not approve.
But after Mayor William Bell discussed the list of projects and other details with some council members, the vote passed. Mayor Bell says this proposal will improve Birmingham. "We don't have enough money to address all of the problems but at least it gives us a start," says Mayor Bell.
But some council members question whether this is the right time for big spending.
LaShunda Scales says her district does not want to incur more debt. "The public is becoming extremely leery of taking on any kind of debt, whether it's bond debt or whatever," says Scales.
Councilman Steven Hoyt says he feels uncomfortable to make a decision when there hasn't been a proper way of coming together as a council. Hoyt says, "I'm just not comfortable, in setting a date for the people to make a decision when we don't have any planning."
And President Roderick Royal who abstained says things just aren't adding up, literally. "I'm really in limbo, and I don't want to be in limbo, because the numbers in the budget tell a different story from what we're hearing today," says Royal.
But the other councilors are, and have been ready to vote to set a date to move forward since the beginning. Councilman Johnathan Austin says this capital improvement bond will give financial resources to address some of the problems that exist in the community. "It will pave streets, repair our sidewalks, and repair our gutters in our most neglected in underserved neighborhoods and communities," says Austin.
Now, the public will be allowed to vote on increasing bond debt.
Mayor Bell finally got what he wanted although it took three attempts. He says this plan is going to take some time to work on. "None of this is going to happen overnight," says Mayor Bell.
The Justice department agreed to work with the city to expedite approval of the proposed October 9th referendum date.
