The Metro Council agenda is packed for Tuesday night's meeting, with several big items on the list.
The main focus for councilmembers will be the third reading and final vote on the budget. Several items are to be discussed in individual resolutions in addition to the whole budget ordinance.
Councilmembers get behind bigger cost-of-living increases after a broad appeal from Metro employees
One of the resolutions that has been discussed at length is an increase in pay for Metro employees. Mayor Freddie O'Connell's budget proposal included an increase of 3.5 percent, and Budget and Finance Committee Chair Delishia Porterfield submitted a 0.5 percent increase to that for a total of a 4 percent increase in pay. Employee advocates have asked for a 5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. District 16 Councilmember Ginny Welsch has proposed two amendments, one of which would raise Metro employees pay to their requested 5 percent. The other amendment would bring pay up by 4.5 percent.
The budget isn't the only thing that will likely lead to major discussion on the floor Tuesday night. Councilmember Joy Styles has filed a resolution "expressing a lack of confidence" in Metro finance director Kevin Crumbo and legal director Wally Dietz.
The legislation takes issue with the two because of recent trouble with the Metro Arts Commission. Styles' resolution puts the blame on Dietz for legal advice given to the Arts Commission that "resulted in the least equitable funding scenario" for artists and organizations seeking grant funding according to a Metro Human Relations Commission report. The resolution calls out Crumbo for a statement he made during the last council meeting, for which he has since apologized, as well as explains his involvement in the confusion about the Arts funding.
In her latest recap, @startleseasily reports on a tense back-and-forth between the Metro Council and finance director Kevin Crumbo
Also on the council's agenda is the first reading of a bill that would approve a transit referendum to go on the November ballot for Mayor O'Connell's "Choose How You Move" program. There may not be too much discussion, and it's likely to end up in the consent agenda since it's a first reading. Still, it's worth noting that 32 councilmembers have already signed onto the legislation as sponsors.
Another bill of note on first reading is the establishment of an East Bank Development Authority. The council must adopt the state legislation that was passed earlier this year to create a body that will have the power to develop, incentivize, operate, manage and promote the East Bank area.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
