Proposition 5 would needlessly amend the Seattle City
Charter. Legislative Article IV Section 22, by deleting all of (1) (2) (3)
(4) which provides very important, reasonable checks and
balances by the City Comptroller to oversee and control funding,
spending and bond borrowing debt repayment, by annually estimating
city revenues. For additional background on arguments to not
delete the term "City Comptroller" please read or statements
against Proposition 4 in this same voters pamphlet. Vote No on
Proposition 5 on November 2, 1999.
Statement prepared by:
Fred Bucke
Linda Jordan
Phone: (206) 523-6066
Rebuttal to Statement Against
Proposition 5 merely eliminates outdated Charter descriptions
of the City budget process. Since 1967, State law has
specified how Seattle is to prepare its budget. The Mayor proposes a
budget that includes revenue estimates and debt service
payments, and the City Council makes final decisions. All of the content
of the budget that is required by the Charter is included within
the current budget process.
As it exists, the Charter includes language about budget
timing and responsibilities that is inconsistent with State law and
with current organizational structures. Preserving this outdated
language in the Charter simply confuses our citizens. Vote YES
on Proposition 5.
Rebuttal prepared by:
Paul Schell, Mayor, City of Seattle
Sue Donaldson, President, Seattle City Council