Tagged: Louisville Metro Councilwoman Marianne Butler

The Louisville Metro Council Budget Committee is reminding residents about their opportunity to comment on Mayor Greg Fischer's proposed 2013-2014 budget.

Lawmakers are holding hearings on the mayor's spending plan throughout the month of June. The have been meeting with Metro department directors and non-profit groups.

The public comment portion is scheduled for June 13 at 6 p.m., and residents are being asked to sign-up at City Hall an hour in advance.

"The budget committee believes it is very important that we hear from the public when it comes to spending tax dollars for the coming year," says Councilwoman Marianne Butler, D-15, who chairs the committee.

The Louisville Metro Council Budget Committee will begin its review of Mayor Greg Fischer's spending plan next Wednesday.

The committee has scheduled several hearings over the coming weeks and will review the health department's funding first with the goal of approving the entire budget by June 18.

Fischer's office will give an overview of revenue, planned projects and operations at a hearing on June 3. The council will also hear from public safety agencies such as the fire, EMS and Metro Police departments.

"This is the first budget where our revenue picture looks much brighter than in years past," Budget Committee Chairwoman Marianne Butler, D-15, said in a news release.  "We have a good working relationship with the mayor and his staff and I do not expect any major surprises as we begin our review."

Louisville Metro Council members are praising Metro Police for impounding a dump truck allegedly involved in illegal dumping in the Fairdale neighborhood.

According to council staff, police received a complaint on Wednesday of shingles and roofing materials being illegally dropped off on Manslick Road.

Officers arrived at the scene and found a truck belonging to Elkins & Sons of Louisville that was later impounded.

"I applaud the quick work of the officer who answered this call about illegal dumping," Councilwoman Marianne Butler, D-15, said in a news release. "I am also glad to see the public is getting involved in stopping people who believe they can use our streets, alleys, vacant fields and roadways as their own personal dumping ground."

Last year, city lawmakers strengthened an ordinance to empower law enforcement to seize vehicles caught illegally dumping.

The council also added funding to the budget for 19 new cameras targeting problem areas where there have been repeated cases of trash and other junk items being dropped off improperly

The Metro Council will honor retired University of Louisville economist Paul Coomes at its meeting this Thursday.

Last week, the council’s Budget Committee passed a resolution to thank Coomes for his service over the years, which included several economic development studies and advising the council on economic forecasts to help draft city budgets since merger.

Councilman Kelly Downard, R-16, is vice chairman of the budget committee. He says Coomes was an invaluable consultant who helped the city face the national recession.

"He was a reliable source. One that we trusted. And in government trust is very, very important. We trusted his input and he never let us down. He was very, very good," he says.