LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Since Spectrum News 1 first reported on Metro Council members' reaction to Mayor Greg Fischer's budget proposal, Fischer's office is responding to some of the criticism.
His spokesperson wrote in response to comments from Councilman Anthony Piagentini, that "Metro has repeatedly been honored as having structurally balanced, strong financial management, and diverse economy."
What You Need To Know
- The Mayor's office is pushing back on comments from Councilman Anthony Piagentini
- On Thursday after Fischer's budget address, Piagentini accused the mayor's past budget plans as being off-balance without Council's cuts
- A spokesperson for Fischer writes, "Metro has repeatedly been honored as having structurally balanced, strong financial management"
- Fischer's current budget proposal includes $19 million for programs like anti-violence intiatives
Councilman Anthony Piagentini (R- District 19) on Thursday emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the spending plan. He brought up memories of years past, saying:
"Up until two-plus years ago when this Metro Council went through one of the toughest budget cycles we went through in decades ... this budget had been structurally unsound for every year of the mayor's term," Piagentini said. "We had expenses outpacing revenues every single year. That year, led by the Metro Council, was the turning point. If it was up to the mayor, none of those cuts would've been made."
Fischer's spokesperson, Jean Porter, wrote to SN1 Friday, "Metro has repeatedly been honored as having structurally balanced, strong financial management, and diverse economy."
Porter provided reviews from rating agencies. Of them, she lists S&P Ratings Report for Louisville in August of 2016: "We view the city's management as strong, with good financial policies and practices..."